You’ve probably seen the clips. Maybe it was a late-night scroll through YouTube or a heated thread on X (formerly Twitter) where someone unironically linked a segment involving a news host and a map that looks like a dinner plate. It’s weird. People get genuinely heated about the Fox News flat earth connection because it hits at the intersection of mainstream media, fringe science, and the absolute chaos of modern skepticism.
Does Fox News actually think the world is flat? No. Of course not. But the way the network handles "alternative viewpoints" often opens the door for these theories to breathe. It’s about the optics of "just asking questions."
When we talk about the Fox News flat earth phenomenon, we aren't usually talking about a formal editorial stance. Instead, we’re looking at specific moments where guests or hosts flirted with the idea of "discovering the truth" outside of NASA’s data. It’s a rabbit hole. A deep, confusing, and often hilarious one.
The Segment That Started the Fire
Back in 2018, things got weird. Most people point to a specific moment on Fox & Friends where the hosts were discussing Kyrie Irving. The NBA star had famously—and later regretfully—voiced his support for flat earth theory.
The hosts didn't immediately shut it down with a physics textbook. Instead, they laughed. They joked. They leaned into the "who knows?" vibe that defines a lot of morning television. This is where the Fox News flat earth narrative really took root. By treating a scientifically debunked claim as a "quirky personality trait" or a "matter of opinion," the network inadvertently gave the movement a massive platform.
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It wasn't just Kyrie. There’s a specific brand of populism that thrives on Fox. It's the "don't let the elites tell you what to think" energy. If the "elites" say the earth is a globe, and Fox says the elites are liars, you can see how a viewer might do the math and end up at the edge of a frozen Antarctic wall.
Science vs. "Common Sense"
The tension here is fascinating. Most Fox viewers are traditionalists. They like clear answers. But there’s a growing segment of the audience that is deeply, almost pathologically, suspicious of any government-funded institution. That includes NASA.
When a guest on a show like Tucker Carlson Tonight (back when he was the king of the primetime slot) talks about "official lies," they aren't always talking about the shape of the planet. They’re talking about COVID, or the economy, or elections. But the audience doesn't always compartmentalize. If the government lied about that, maybe they lied about the horizon too.
Physics is hard. Looking out your window is easy.
The Fox News flat earth overlap happens because both the network and the flat earth community use the same rhetorical toolkit. They both rely on "visual evidence" over complex data. They both position themselves as the "truth-tellers" in a world of deception.
Why the Algorithm Loves This
Google and YouTube algorithms are partially to blame for why you keep seeing these two things together. If you watch a Fox News clip about government overreach, the AI might think, "Hey, you know who else hates the government? Flat Earthers!"
Suddenly, your sidebar is a mess.
- You watch a clip about NASA's budget.
- The next video is a "documentary" about the firmament.
- You go back to Fox, and a guest mentions "pseudo-science."
The loop is closed. It’s an ecosystem of doubt.
Breaking Down the Skepticism
Let’s be real for a second. Flat earth theory isn’t about geography. It’s about trust. Or the lack of it.
When we look at the Fox News flat earth search trends, we see peaks whenever the network discusses space exploration. When the James Webb Telescope sent back those mind-blowing images, the "skeptics" came out in droves. They claimed the images were CGI. Why? Because Fox had spent the previous week talking about how the "Deep State" uses technology to manipulate the public.
It’s a spillover effect.
You can’t train an audience to question everything and then get mad when they question the curvature of the Earth. It doesn't work that way. The "question everything" mantra is a double-edged sword. It’s great for investigative journalism. It’s terrible for basic planetary physics.
Real Experts Weigh In
Dr. Lee McIntyre, a research fellow at Boston University and author of How to Talk to a Science Denier, spent time at a Flat Earth International Conference. He’s noted that these folks aren't "stupid." They’re actually hyper-skeptical. They fancy themselves as amateur scientists.
They use the same language you hear on primetime news. They talk about "evidence-based research" and "doing your own homework."
The Fox News flat earth connection is essentially a mirror. The network reflects a culture that has lost its North Star. When people can’t agree on what a fact is, the shape of the world becomes a matter of "debate." It’s exhausting, honestly.
The Role of Personalities
Remember Greg Gutfeld? He’s known for his snark. On The Five, the topic of flat earth has come up as a punchline. But even in the jokes, there’s a kernel of what makes this stick. By mocking the "experts" who get angry at flat earthers, they align themselves with the "eccentrics."
It’s a "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" situation.
If the mainstream media (the "libs") are the ones screaming about science, then Fox personalities often feel a pull to defend—or at least tolerate—the people the mainstream hates. Even if those people think we’re living under a giant glass dome.
What Actually Happened with the 2024 Clips?
There was a surge in Fox News flat earth searches recently due to some miscontextualized clips from a weather broadcast. A meteorologist was explaining a local phenomenon, and a small, vocal group on Telegram clipped it to make it look like he was admitting the earth was flat.
He wasn't.
He was talking about atmospheric refraction. But in the world of 15-second clips, "refraction" becomes "proof of a dome." The network didn't even have to do anything. The internet did the work for them.
This is the danger of the current media environment. Content is stripped of context. A joke on a morning show becomes a "confession" by afternoon. By evening, it’s a conspiracy theory with 2 million views.
Actionable Steps to Navigate the Noise
You don't have to be a victim of the algorithm. You can actually fight back against the flood of misinformation.
- Check the full clip. If you see a "bombshell" Fox News segment about flat earth, find the full 10-minute video. Usually, the "proof" is just a joke or a guest being weird while the host looks confused.
- Understand the rhetoric. Recognize when a personality is using "just asking questions" as a way to avoid factual accountability. This is a common tactic in both political commentary and fringe science.
- Look at the source of the "leak." Most of these theories are pushed by third-party accounts, not the network itself. They use Fox’s branding to gain legitimacy.
- Study basic optics. A lot of "flat earth" evidence is just a misunderstanding of how light works over water or at high altitudes. A quick refresher on physics goes a long way.
The reality of the Fox News flat earth saga is that it’s more about the state of our discourse than the state of the planet. We live in a world where "truth" is often treated as a team sport. If your "team" is skeptical of the government, you might find yourself defending things you know aren't true, just to stay on the team.
Stop doing that.
The earth is a globe. NASA has its flaws, but they aren't faking the horizon. Fox News is a massive media conglomerate that knows exactly how to push buttons to get ratings, but they aren't trying to rewrite the laws of physics. They’re just riding the wave of skepticism that they helped create.
Next time you see a headline that sounds too wild to be true, it probably is. Keep your feet on the ground—the spherical, rotating ground—and keep your head out of the conspiratorial clouds.
Key Takeaway: The intersection of Fox News flat earth theories is a byproduct of a high-distrust environment. To stay grounded, verify the context of viral clips and recognize the difference between political skepticism and scientific denial. Focus on primary sources and avoid the "outrage bait" cycle that thrives on both sides of the screen.