New York (CNN Business) Lachlan Murdoch, the chairman and chief executive of Fox, privately expressed support to Tucker Carlson after the Fox News host's anti-immigration comments prompted a backlash that spurred a sizable advertiser boycott late last year.

That is according to The New York Times Magazine, which on Wednesday published a lengthy three-part story examining the media empire and family dynasty of Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan's father.

The anecdote is representative of a broader theme in the piece published by The Times: Lachlan preferred a more nationalist and populist version of Fox News, supporting hosts like Carlson, while his brother James Murdoch preferred a toned-down, more establishment version of the network.

The Times cited two sources, whom it did not name, to report that Lachlan had sent personal text messages of support to Carlson amid the controversy over Carlson's comments.

Carlson had faced significant criticism in December when he said on his show that mass immigration "makes our country poorer, and dirtier, and more divided."

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