Tucker Carlson criticised for likening children wearing face masks to ‘child abuse’

Fox News host Tucker Carlson has sparked yet another outcry online, this time making a “disgusting” comment that children being forced to wear masks outside is “child abuse”.

Speaking onTucker Carlson Tonight, the presenter said that the requirement should be made “illegal”.

“Your response when you see children wearing masks as they play should be no different from your response to seeing someone beat a kid in Walmart. Call the police immediately. Call Child Protective Services.

“Keep calling until someone arrives. What you’re looking at is abuse – it’s child abuse – and you’re morally obligated to attempt to prevent it,” he said.

Carlson went on to add that individuals should give the same response to teachers telling their kids to “wear masks on the soccer field” as they would if “every day after lunch, your six-grader is going to get punched in the face by a teacher”, describing it as “unacceptable” and “dangerous”.

Read more:

• Mum lets daughter’s ex continue to live with them – and it’s sparked a major online debate
• Viral video shows police officer ‘racially profiling’ Black man at diner
• Justin Bieber shows off new dreadlocks – and is accused of cultural appropriation
• Man who claims he is Charles and Camilla’s son shares new photographic ‘evidence’
• Elon Musk says a ‘bunch of people will probably die’ during Mars mission

Similar words were used online to describe Carlson’s comments. Several Twitter users suggested the “selfish” commentator spend a day in an intensive care unit (ICU) or maskless in a Covid ward in India, as the country deals with a devastating second wave of the virus:

Others, meanwhile, criticised Fox News for airing the comments, and warned that either Carlson or the broadcaster could be sued if children are threatened as a result of the presenter’s actions:

Parents have also explained their reasoning for their children wearing face masks:

In the same monologue, Carlson also said that masks are “purely a sign of political obedience”, like wearing “Kim Il-Sung pins in Pyongyang” in North Korea.

“The only people who wear masks voluntarily outside are zealots and neurotics.

“The next time you see someone in a mask on the sidewalk or on a bike path, do not hesitate. Ask politely, but firmly: ‘would you please take off your mask? Science shows there’s no reason for you to be wearing it. Your mask is making me uncomfortable.’”

Official guidance from the United States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children aged 2 years or older should wear a face covering, with the organisation saying that cloth masks with multiple layers can block up to 50 to 70 per cent of fine droplets and particles, as well as “limit the forward spread” of those not captured by the mask.