Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly just highlighted the fact that the Fox News Channel has experienced a major collapse in its viewership numbers after firing Tucker Carlson. 

In case you missed it, Fox released a statement on April 24 announcing that it and Carlson - the extremely popular host of Tucker Carlson Tonight - "have agreed to part ways."

The statement reads:

FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor. Mr. Carlson’s last program was Friday April 21^st. Fox News Tonight will air live at 8 PM/ET starting this evening as an interim show helmed by rotating FOX News personalities until a new host is named.

The cause of the breakup remains unclear. Thus far, there has only been speculation. But, what we do know for sure is that Fox is now taking a ratings beating.

The numbers

Newsmax reports:

After Tucker Carlson's firing from Fox News this past Monday, the network has witnessed a collapse in ratings — especially in its 8 p.m. ET prime-time slot. For years Tucker Carlson owned this prime time for Fox, drawing an average 3.2 million viewers a night. Not anymore.

The full effect that Carlson's firing had on Fox was not witnessed immediately. On Friday, April 21 - Carlson's last program - 2.65 million viewers tuned in.

Then, on Monday - the day of Carlson's firing - 2.6 million viewers still tuned into the channel. But, then, the dropoff began.

Tuesday only saw 1.7 million viewers, and, by Wednesday, the viewership for that 8 p.m. time slot dropped down to 1.33 million.

That's roughly a 60% dropoff from Carlson's typical night.

What else would you expect?

None of this should come as any surprise to anyone who is familiar with Carlson. For many Republicans, Carlson was the reason they watched Fox.

Rasmussen Reports, for example, just released a poll that found that Carlson has a higher favorability rating among likely U.S. voters than Fox: 59% to 52%.

Additionally, the same poll found that significantly more Americans believe that Carlson's departure from Fox will make Fox worse, rather than better (32% to 19%).

So, none of this should be surprising to anyone - including Fox. Fox is well aware of Carlson's popularity and decided to get rid of him anyway.

The question now is whether Fox will survive Carlson's departure. Fox clearly thinks it will. The viewership ratings, however, show that there are many Americans who are trying to make sure that Fox doesn't.