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


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

By Lisa Richwine

 

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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.

 

 
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-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-27

 

 

 

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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

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$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.

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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 by Hank Gunn
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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! :post-4641-1156693976: 

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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 by mtls2005
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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.

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