Tucker Carlson said in an interview with The American Conservative that platforms like OnlyFans pose a greater threat to American society than "radical Islam," claiming he could not name anyone in the U.S. killed by radical Islamist violence in the past 24 years. His remarks, which emphasize social problems such as addiction, unemployment and online sex work, provoked swift pushback from critics who noted Islamist‑linked attacks since 2001. Conservative figures including Ben Shapiro and Meghan McCain publicly condemned Carlson’s framing, renewing debate within the right about priorities and rhetorical responsibility.
Tucker Carlson Says OnlyFans Poses Greater Threat Than 'Radical Islam,' Ignites Conservative Backlash
Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has drawn sharp criticism from fellow conservatives after telling The American Conservative he feels “sorry” for people who view “radical Islam” as a greater threat to the United States than social platforms such as OnlyFans.
In a Friday interview about a Turning Point USA poll conducted at AmericaFest — an event where Carlson spoke — he disputed the poll’s finding that respondents named "radical Islam" as the biggest national threat. Carlson said he could not name "anyone in the United States in the last 24 years who’s been killed by radical Islam," and framed his argument around what he described as the real harms facing American communities.
"I believe in measuring reality a little more empirically. And I don’t know anyone in the United States in the last 24 years who’s been killed by radical Islam. I do know a lot of people who have killed themselves. I know people who’ve died of drug ODs, more than a few. I know people who can’t get jobs. None of the boys in my daughter’s class can get jobs, none of those white boys can get jobs. They’re being destroyed by Adderall and video games and porn."
Carlson went on to argue that platforms such as OnlyFans cause significant social damage, saying they "turn[] some huge percentage of American women into prostitutes," and that such trends are more immediately destructive than what he characterized as the threat from "radical Islam."
"I see millions of Americans being destroyed, and none of it is at the hands of radical Islam. Is radical Islam more dangerous than OnlyFans? It’s not even close...So anyone who believes that lie, I feel sorry for."
Many critics pushed back quickly on social media and elsewhere. Commenters pointed out that there have been several politically motivated attacks tied to Islamist extremism in the United States since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and said Carlson’s dismissal of that threat was misleading.
The remarks also reignited tensions within conservative circles. Prominent conservative commentator Ben Shapiro publicly criticized Carlson, calling him a conspiracy theorist, while Meghan McCain mocked the former host’s framing on X, writing, "We’re like 3 months away from Tucker Carlson telling everyone you’re a warmonger neocon if you don’t convert to Islam."
Carlson’s comments come amid reports he is planning to buy a home in Qatar, a detail that has added to the controversy in some right‑wing circles. Supporters of Carlson have defended his focus on cultural and socioeconomic problems — including unemployment, addiction and declines in family stability — while critics say his comparison minimizes the reality of ideologically motivated violence and misrepresents the scope of different threats.
The exchange has renewed debate among conservatives about national priorities and how political commentators should assess and communicate threats to American society.
