NBC says 'Megyn Kelly Today' not returning to the air

[rooster59]

NBC says 'Megyn Kelly Today' not returning to the air

By Lisa Richwine

 

NBC News personality Megyn Kelly poses for photographers at the NBCUniversal UpFront presentation in New York City, New York, U.S., May 14, 2018. REUTERS/Mike Segar

 

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Television anchor Megyn Kelly's NBC morning show "Megyn Kelly Today" will not return to the air, NBC News said in an emailed statement on Friday.

 

Earlier this week, Kelly sparked widespread criticism by defending the use of blackface as part of Halloween costumes during remarks on the show.

 

Kelly apologised for the comments on the air, but the network began airing taped episodes of her normally live show on Thursday.

 

Kelly, 47, remains an employee of NBC News and "discussions about next steps are continuing," her attorney, Bryan Freedman, said in a statement on Friday. According to a "Today" show report on Friday, NBC executives and Kelly's representatives were in negotiations about her departure and her remaining three-year $69 million contract.

 

NBC hired Kelly in January 2017 after she rose to fame on 21st Century Fox's cable channel Fox News. At the time, her contract at Fox was up for renewal and she said she was searching for new opportunities.

 

Next week, other Today show co-anchors will host during the 9 a.m. hour that had belonged to Kelly, NBC News said.

 

Kelly made her controversial remarks on her show on Tuesday. "What is racist? Because you get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface for Halloween or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween," she said. "When I was a kid, that was OK as long as you were dressing up like a character."

 

Kelly apologised on air the next day, saying, "I was wrong, and I am sorry."

 

NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack condemned the remarks in a staff meeting, according to a report on the network's "Today" morning show on Friday.

 

Last September, Kelly caused a furore when she interviewed actress Jane Fonda and quizzed her about plastic surgery.

She was criticized for interviewing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who has said the 2012 Connecticut school shooting a hoax.

 

Despite her high-profile hiring, Kelly has failed to boost audiences. According to Nielsen ratings data, "Megyn Kelly Today" drew an average audience of 2.3 million in the 12 months to September 2018, compared to 2.8 million for "Today's Take" that was hosted by Al Roker and Tamron Hall and replaced by Kelly's show.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-27

 

 

 

[nev]

Who is she and what's this to do with Thailand?,.

[Emdog]

It is posted under "entertainment news", not under "Thailand News". Good enough?

NBC should have fired her for being stupid, not for what is seen as racist or insensitive comment. How you get to her age with her education and not know this is stupid shows she is stupid. And top that by discussing with only white panel... oy

[mtls2005]

You can take the girl out of Fox...

 

Charlize Theron is portraying her in the Roger Ailes bio-pic.

 

John Lithgow is portraying Ailes.

 

 

[mtls2005]

$69 million separation package from NBC should "cushion" the blow?

 

I could try and be an ignorant racist for half that.

 

Still can't fathom her bangin' co-worker Brit Hume, what is he like, 75, while both were married? Ah, family values at Fox.

[Joe Mcseismic]

Ye Gods! Let's hope the US news media doesn't find out about Black Pete and all the Dutch men that dress up as him during Christmas.

[ncc1701d]

Megan Kelly has said a lot of stupid stuff over the years. But these comments I don’t have a problem with. The world has gone pc stupid. If I want my tgf to go as gamora and puts on green face that’s ok, Neytiri from avatar blue face is ok, but if I want her to go as uhura and puts on darker make up its racist? Pfo. (Yes, Zoe Saldana is a crush of mine!)

Edited October 28, 2018 by ncc1701d

[Hank Gunn]

2 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

You can take the girl out of Fox...

 

Charlize Theron is portraying her in the Roger Ailes bio-pic.

 

John Lithgow is portraying Ailes.

 

 

Yes, only Fox can be racist. All other media outlets and their personalities are lilly-white paragons of virtue. Especially the teary-eyed/maudlin, anti-Trumper Jimmy Kimmel. (And no, I'm not a Trump supporter; actually really dislike him. I just don't like double-standards and hypocrisy.)

 

This was a schtick Jimmy did on a number of occasions. Imagine if someone else with more "conservative views" did this.

 

 

Oh, and he didn't just say black face is okay for Halloween, like Ms. Kelley did. He actually DID blackface.

Edited October 28, 2018 by Hank Gunn
Added last comment.

[fakename]

Wow! Kelley banging Brit? In Pattaya, kelley would be an old lady, and Brit would be a young boy! Some of you guys should look in the mirror. At least Brit doesnt hang out in the bar all day. 

[Ulic]

Once again Political Correctness rides roughshod over everyone/everything. My feelings were hurt, it promotes stereotypes, etc...etc...I shake my head. Never watched the show, but I do support peoples rights to express their ideas even though some may be offended. 

[Skeptic7]

This is PC stupidity and oversensitive BS. Kelly says a lot of stupid things, but C'MON! REALLY?!? Fired for blackface? Now I got red face! 

 

At least my Helloween Party costume dilemma has been sorted out! 

 

Gimme Politically Incorrect Bill Maher any day over these PC hypocrites!  

[Tug]

Give her the boot with 0 $

[mtls2005]

So now that she's said she was sorry, and that she was wrong, how do those who see this a PC gone wild judge her I wonder?

 

Why apologize and admit you are wrong if it's OK?

 

Is she now a turn-coat?

 

 

[canuckamuck]

10 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

So now that she's said she was sorry, and that she was wrong, how do those who see this a PC gone wild judge her I wonder?

 

Why apologize and admit you are wrong if it's OK?

 

Is she now a turn-coat?

 

 

You could see her choking back the tears of humiliation over the stupidity of having to grovel at the alter of PC madness.

[mtls2005]

25 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

You could see her choking back the tears of humiliation over the stupidity of having to grovel at the alter of PC madness.

 

So now she's stupid? Wow, even I wouldn't go there.

 

Why issue such a heartfelt apology if she believed her original comments were legitimate? Why issue a written apology to NBC staff? Are you saying she was forced to do this? Are you saying she is a liar? Or that she just did it for the money? (Note that NBC will be paying out 100% on the remainder of her contract, probably with a non-compete for some period.)

 

Full text of Kelly's apology letter to NBC staff:

 

Dear friends & teammates –

 

One of the wonderful things about my job is that I get the chance to express and hear a lot of opinions. Today is one of those days where listening carefully to other points of view, including from friends and colleagues, is leading me to rethink my own views.

 

When we had the roundtable discussion earlier today about the controversy of making your face look like a different race as part of a Halloween costume, I suggested that this seemed O.K. if done as part of this holiday where people have the chance to make themselves look like others. The iconic Diana Ross came up as an example. To me, I thought, why would it be controversial for someone dressing up as Diana Ross to make herself look like this amazing woman as a way of honoring and respecting her?

 

I realize now that such behavior is indeed wrong, and I am sorry. The history of blackface in our culture is abhorrent; the wounds too deep.

 

I’ve never been a “P.C.” kind of person—but I understand that we do need to be more sensitive in this day and age. Particularly on race and ethnicity issues which, far from being healed, have been exacerbated in our politics over the past year. This is a time for more understanding, love, sensitivity, and honor, and I want to be part of that. I look forward to continuing that discussion.

 

I’m honored to work with all of you every day.

 

Love,

Mk

 

 

 

Edited October 29, 2018 by mtls2005

[BritManToo]

Never apologize for anything, if you show weakness the feeding frenzy will not stop until you are unemployed and unemployable.

The liberal multicultural left do not forgive.

[Joe Mcseismic]

5 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Never apologize for anything, if you show weakness the feeding frenzy will not stop until you are unemployed and unemployable.

The liberal multicultural left do not forgive.

What a stupid philosophy.

[canuckamuck]

11 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

 

So now she's stupid? Wow, even I wouldn't go there.

 

The need to apologize is stupid. And she just traded a bit of her soul for a shot at prolonging her career. She had done nothing wrong. Lots of stars have done bits where they impersonated someone of another skin tone. Who cares. No one is doing any black face minstrel gags in the last 30 years. And she was only talking about Halloween costumes 40 years ago as being the only time she thought it had been acceptable. Are any black kids going out as a Marvel comic hero this year other than Black Panther. Better call the race police.

[spidermike007]

One has to just laugh at how the obsession with PC has weakened the US. It is quite pathetic. Nearly everyone is offended by something.

 

I say get a life. Grow some thicker skin. Stop being such crybabies. 

 

Megyn is laughing all the way to the bank. Who cares? This is such a petty issue. 

 

 

[janclaes47]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

One has to just laugh at how the obsession with PC has weakened the US.

[ncc1701d]

Similar lines - found this and thought it interesting. Context is always important and intent.