Well, it looks like karma may have finally caught up with FOX-News-anchor-turned-TODAY-show-host Megyn Kelly.
The 47-year-old is purportedly out of a job after comments she made about blackface on her show earlier this week.
“Given the circumstances, Megyn Kelly Today will be on tape the rest of the week,” an NBC News spokeswoman said Thursday morning.
It all started during round-table conversation on Tuesday morning’s show about Halloween costumers, when Kelly claimed that blackface was “OK when I was a kid as long as you were dressing like a character” and said she doubted whether blackface was actually racist.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
A backlash ensued, prompting Kelly to issue a formal apology in writing as well as make an on-air apology the next day.
“I want to begin with two words: I’m sorry,” she said at the top of Wednesday morning’s show.
She went on to say “I have never been a PC kind of person” but that she learned from the backlash over her comments that “it is not OK for (blackface) to be part of any costume, Halloween or otherwise.”
"I want to begin with two words, I'm sorry..The country feels so divided and I have no wish to add to that pain and offense. I believe this is a time for more understanding, more love, more sensitivity and honor..Thank you for listening and for helping me listen too." Megyn Kelly pic.twitter.com/6hHrvZLNvK
— Megyn Kelly TODAY (@MegynTODAY) October 24, 2018
But apparently her canned apologies just weren’t enough.
CNN reports that Kelly’s exit from the TODAY show is now a matter of when, not if, calling her firing “imminent.”
Kelly has also reportedly parted ways with her agency, CAA, and has hired a lawyer to help negotiate her departure from the show.
According to CNN:
One key question: Whether she will stay with NBC News in some other role. She is scheduled to participate in the network’s midterm election night coverage in two weeks.
The decision to retain a lawyer may signal a lengthy battle over her contract, which is reportedly valued at $23 million a year. She is in the middle of the second year of a three year contract.
NBC News has declined to comment.
Related: Don Lemon isn’t buying Megyn Kelly’s feigned ignorance over the racist roots of blackface
JH0607
Whatever happened to freedom of speech or freedom of thought?
jakejacob
There’s no freedom of speech with Fake News Media. #hypocrites #doublestandard
jakejacob
Just to let you know Queerty does not allow freedom of speech or freedom of thought. Any negative comments will be moderated.
Zokomei
Nothing, anyone is still free to say and think how they what. However, there are consequences to our actions. Freedom does not mean without consequence.
dcbanks
There is freedom of speech, she’s free to try and go back to Fox and say whatever she likes.
Larry
She was free to speak and she did!! Didnt you hear her and see her? The issue is that NBC wants EVERYONE to watch, even black people. So when you hurt your employer’s bottom line, you get fired. Same as if someone at McD’s told customers “do you really want to eat this shit?” they would be out the door with no warning. Do you get it now JH?
Juanjo
If you are an employee, you have no free speech on the job. Have you ever read the Constitution? Oh wait, you’re Russian.
funpitt412
The radical extreme liberals want all free speech gone. They want a government that tells you what to think, where to work, how to live and who to believe. Michael Richards can get up on stage and say the “N” word over and over but Seinfeld is still on the air.
richardNobbs
Question. Would you have the same response if this was a “gay” issue?
C. Freedom of speech is a matter of government prohibiting freedom of speech and even in that there a limits (yelling fire in a crowded movie theater) NBC is a corporation with corporate rules. 20 years ago you could make the the sorts of statements she made and possibly you’d get a raise. Moral clauses and other strictures that govern both speech and actions are a part of working for a corporation. If you don’t like them create a indepedent space and have at it.
On a more cynical tip I would suggest that NBC had the dawning awareness that they overpaid Kelly and she has just not delivered. Her talk show is a failure and her other work at NBC has been average if not a bit subpar. Firing her on these grounds allows them a way out without forking over all that gravey.
P.S. Like Roseanne Barr this isn’t Kelly’s first time at the rodeo. Remember, “By the way, kids at home, Santa IS white.”
thisiswhatithunk
Freedom of speech? WTF are you talking about? I honestly despair for America and Americans right now. With morons like this defending free speech in the name of blatant racism it’s no wonder you’re all sleep walking into the next Third Reich. Heil Trump. He, and idiots like Ms Kelly, are taking your country down a path of no return.
OzJosh
Whatever happened to people grasping the concept of freedom of speech. It has never, ever come without reasonable limitations and responsibilities. If you should “fire” in a crowded theatre when there is no fire there are legal consequences. If you incite hatred and violence then there should also be legal consequences. And in the light of bombs being sent to prominent Democrats one might hope that this also applies to Presidents.
gaimingfoxer
I’m not sure which of these comments makes me want to shake my head more…
Has anyone found a shred of evidence that anyone called for her to be arrested?
No?
Then it has NOTHING to do with Freedom of Speech.
Freedom of Speech only protects you from the government. She can say whatever the heck she wants wherever she wants.
Just like Rosanne can post all the racist tweets she wants
Just like Kathy Griffin can post whatever anti-Trump stuff she wants on her personal accounts
They were fired from their jobs because they caused financial trouble for their employers who get their public image tarnished and likely having sponsors backing out.
They were not arrested.
Craig
Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences.
Kangol
You’re confusing the First Amendment with corporations’ ability to regulate the speech of their employees. She’s bad for business and was from the beginning, so now she’s out of a job. Maybe now she’ll learn being a moron isn’t the way to go through life.
surreal33
You see that is the beautiful thing about America and free speech, you are free say whatever you like however, you are also free to suffer the consequences of said speech.
Bob LaBlah
Personally I didn’t care for Megan but I think her firing is overkill. Does anyone know if ol’ Celeste Brooks was her boss? Yes, THAT Celeste Brooks. Surely you guys haven’t forgotten her.
Polaro
You mean the PC police? Yeah. Nightmare.
Franklin
There is not such thing as the PC police. Just don’t be a a-hole and you’ll be fine.
Polaro
Franklin, if you think Celeste was just moderating nasty comments, you’re completely wrong. She deleted anything she did not agree with. PC police.
Polaro
Firing Megan over this issue now before the election is a really dumb move that will energize the racists. Why? Because it is a nonsense issue that ties directly to freedom of speech and is based on a tenuous theory that white people intend harm when they dress up as a black person. Black face is one thing – and it is ancient history a this point. Dressing as a black person for Halloween is an entirely different thing, unless you are the PC police. This is how liberals lose elections – but prove point about how pure they are.
Scout
I totally agree with you! We pride ourselves in having a First Amendment, but do we really?
Polaro
I’ve stopped identifying as a liberal. I know this is a reaction to the evil republicans, but this PC crap has finally pushed me over the edge.
Juanjo
You posted the same silly comments about blackface yesterday and you were handed your ass for your stupidity. Back for more, I see. BTW, kindly explain the free speech issue here. She is an employee who is doing a job. She has no free speech protection any more than any other employee. The 1st Amendment does not protect employees under any circumstances involved here..
Juanjo
Scout – kindly explain how the 1st Amendment applies to the facts of this case. Take your time.
1898
this isn’t even the worst thing she has said or done during her time at nbc. there were other things they should have fired her for. firing her for this just makes them look overreactive
Rock-N-RollHS
Total B.S. The entertainment and media business are only interested in their brand.
Guess MK won’t be dressing as Diana Ross this Halloween.
btw, dressing as a character ain’t necessarily the same thing as black face. But, hey, why engage in nuance. Everyone is fighting about the in-flight movie as the plane nose dives.
Franklin
You can dress as Diana Ross. Just don’t blacken your face to do it.
Kangol
Just don’t wear blackface. It’s that simple. You can be Diana Ross or any black celebrity without that racist addition. Got it?
Polaro
Oh, god, did they bring Celeste back?
Bob LaBlah
Not quite. What they have done is they now give you the option of deleting your comment before they decide on whether or not its offensive to them (query’s borderline sanctimonious editors). I’ve posted three comments this week that I thought it odd I would be given five minutes to delete it. When I chose not to take the obvious hint the countdown began and the next thing I knew it was either gone or went into that infamous “you comment is awaiting moderation” mode, or simply we are not posting this comment regardless of whether or NOT it is derogatory. But hey, I’d rather that than have to look at ol’ Celeste.
Bob LaBlah
Just curious but did you TOO try to post a comment and got that “option”? lol
Polaro
Yes, I seem to always get the option. Does not seem they are blocking my posts though. I had one going into moderation, but I think it posted.
Andrey
The gay white male will never get it. Black face is offensive to an entire race of people . You can dress it up , but the intent is the same. Trump didn’t create bigots, he just gave them the freedom to be out and proud. Sound familiar?
sacha99
Exactly. They are obsessed with bla ck people. It’s always white people! You never see black people inw hite face for haloween. Why are they so obsessed with bla ck people?
Polaro
Now that is an ignorant comment about all white gay men.
Lacuevaman
I believe you can tell evil in peoples’ eyes. this woman has a lot of evil
ingyaom
Were Megyn’s free speech rights violated? Only if the government shut down her show – which it didn’t. The Constitution (where the First Ammendment is located) says nothing about employers & employees, which is what the issue is here. NBC didn’t like what MK said, so they fired her… no 1st ammendment involved.
JH0607
I’m no racist but I have to admit that blackface can be pretty funny…especially when big white lips are drawn on with it. And talking like Amos and Andy. You just gotta laugh.
Lacuevaman
just curious, why do you say you are “no racist”?
remember Joy-Ann Reed? when confronted with the homophobic bigoted comments from her past blog life, she goes on MSNBC and says she never wrote those words (her blog was hacked) and indicates she is not that kind of person then proceeds to apologize for it.
I say, own your heart!
JH0607
I can say I’m no racist because I wish them no harm…as long as they don’t try to move in next door. I don’t like the uppity ones, but the rest are OK as long as they know their place.
ivanw222
Well..that was seriously overdue!
cynicalsteve
All these Russian bots on here leaving comments are just amazing. They’re just stupid-they don’t know or understand the constitution. Dumbasses.
Wicked Dickie
It’s ok, per Grindr, it’s just a preference.
Heywood Jablowme
I remember she had some very strong opinions about Santa Claus being white! So if she sees a black Santa, does she think that’s “blackface”?
James
GOOD RIDDANCE.
o.codone
For 12 years she was pretty much a superstar at Fox, but then she stabbed her viewers in the front and went after Trump. That was her path to get out the news ghetto at Fox and into mainstream TV. She wanted to be the blonde Oprah, celebrated, fawned over, outrageously famous, even loved. NOT gonna happen !! From the minute she made the move to NBC, her new friends hated her. Probably because of all the years at Fox where she was going on and on about white santa and white jesus. Besides that, she was no Katie Couric, wasn’t a natural, and embarrassed herself time after time. She couldn’t pull off the morning format. Every day I cringed when I watched her show. She was in a pool of sharks but didn’t seem to know it. I kept wondering when they were gonna cut her loose, but it never came. Until last week. Then the liberals turned on her and she was finished, no where to go. She’ll get about half of her money, a piddling $35 or $40 mil. Not too shabby for being an azzhole.