UPDATE: NBC has officially annoucned Megyn Kelly Today is over. “Megyn Kelly Today is not returning. Next week, the 9 a.m. hour will be hosted by other Today co-anchors,” the network said in a statement.
Previously reported:
Is Megyn Kelly pretty much done at NBC? It seems that way!
Thursday, multiple media reports said that her daytime talk show, Megyn Kelly Today, which replaced the last hour of Today, was pretty much over and discussions had taken place before her blackface gaffe, and the show would end at the end of the year. Before this week’s situation, she had been in talks to transition to a role covering harder news, a situation that would have pleased both the former Fox News anchor and the network.
Now that the dust continues to settle, including Kelly being dropped by her power agency, Creative Artists Agency, it looks like she may be out of NBC in full.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Kelly has hired Bryan Freedman, a top litigator on the talent-side in Hollywood. THR says, “The move is a sign that she is gearing up for a fight with NBC that could lead to her exit. She will not appear on the Thursday or Friday episodes of her show, according to sources.” At the very least, she’s not expected to return to Megyn Kelly Today.
Kelly has faced intense backlash for saying on her show that she thought blackface was acceptable for Halloween. People on social media condemned the comments, and it began to impact the show, with the House of Cards cast pulling out of an appearance on the talker. Her Today colleagues also slammed her remarks, with Al Roker saying that she “owes a bigger apology to folks of color around the country.”
NBC News chairman Andy Lack condemned her comments at a company town hall, saying, “There is no other way to put this, but I condemn those remarks — there is no place on our air or in this workplace for them. Very unfortunate…I think that Nightly covered the story well last night and appropriately so. I think this morning on the Today show, the team did an excellent job covering it properly. I thought Craig and Al brought a thoughtfulness and a context to it that was sorely missing, and they really did this company and our audience a real public service. And that is the Today show and Nightly at their very best. As we go forward, my highest priority remains, and as we sort through this with Megyn, let there be no doubt that this is a workplace in which you need to be proud and in which we respect each other in all the ways we know is foundational to who we are.”
Kelly was reportedly upset at this public condemnation since she had addressed it in an apology.
Kelly’s show replaced the hour of Today that was hosted by Tamron Hall and Al Roker. Before her move to NBC, the former Fox News host made waves when she claimed both Jesus and Santa are white people:
READ MORE:
Megyn Kelly’s ‘Today’ Show Debuts Lower Than Tamron Hall And Al Roker’s Hour Last Year
Report: Celebrity Publicists Don’t Want Their Clients On ‘Megyn Kelly Today’
Megyn Kelly Blames The Internet For Her NBC Show’s Dismal Ratings And Reviews
