Megyn Kelly’s Team Reportedly Trying To Get Her A New Job With Rival Networks Following Latest Controversy
Rumors are swirling that Megyn Kelly may be out of a job at NBC after questioning why blackface Halloween costumes are “racist” earlier this week. So, in the wake of her latest controversy, the 47-year-old star’s team is reportedly calling other networks to try to get Megyn a new TV gig.
On Wednesday, Oct. 24, multiple sources told the Daily Mail that Megyn’s agents had been reaching out to other networks and news organizations but that the move was standard practice for the industry. “There have been some preliminary discussions, but it is normal for agents to be aware of what’s out there, but nothing significant yet,” one insider told the entertainment news outlet.
According to a source, NBC’s rival network, ABC, is far from interested in hiring Megyn if she gets fired from the Today show. “We wouldn’t hire her in a million years. She’s toxic and her personal brand is finished,” the insider claimed. When asked for a comment on Megyn possibly looking for new work, her publicist told the Daily Mail the reports were “absolutely false” at this time.
But an executive at NBC then allegedly told the outlet that Megyn’s days could be limited at NBC after her controversial comments earlier this week about blackface. “That hour used to be a ratings hit with Al Roker and Tamron Hall and it was relatively inexpensive to produce. Now viewers get to witness the greatest example of white privilege on television. She defended blackface. I mean how is this acceptable in any way? She needs to go,” the insider said.
On Tuesday, Oct. 23, Megyn held an on-air discussion about why some universities ban Halloween costumes that are considered racist or culturally insensitive. And, at the time, Megyn didn’t seem to understand the problem. “But what is racist?” she asked the panel. “You do 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… when I was a kid, that was OK as long as you were dressing up as a character… I can’t keep up with the number of people we’re offending just by being, like, normal people.”
Later that day, Megyn issued an apology to her “friends and teammates” in an email obtained by Us Weekly. “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,” Megyn began her apology note.
“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 okay if done as part of this holiday where people have the chance to make themselves look like others,” she continued. “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 [politically correct] 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,” Megyn wrote to her colleagues.
“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,” she concluded the email.
But on Thursday, Oct. 25, Megyn did not return to her NBC show Megyn Kelly Today and a rerun episode filled her timeslot instead. Following her absence, rumors are now running rampant that Megyn may never return to Today after her racist blackface comments. Stay tuned…
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