Quick Answer: What Happened With Megyn Kelly
Megyn Kelly rose to prominence as a hard-news anchor at local stations and later at Fox News, where her serious, prosecutorial style earned strong ratings. She joined NBC News in 2017 to anchor a daytime hour and a Sunday morning talk show, but her tenure was marked by high-profile missteps, notably a 2018 controversy over her comments on blackface that damaged her credibility. NBC did not renew her show that year, and she later hosted a syndicated daytime talk show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, as an executive producer, shifting from hard news to a more entertainment-focused daytime format. This overview explains her trajectory, key controversies, and current role.
Background and Early Career
Megyn Kelly built her career largely in local and cable news before becoming a national name. She worked at TV stations in Florida and Detroit, then joined Fox News in 2004, where she anchored daytime and evening news programs. Her straightforward, confrontational style made her a consistent draw, and she gained further visibility hosting debate-style election coverage. These years established her reputation as a tough-interview journalist focused on political and legal stories.
Move to NBC News and New Programs
In 2017, NBC News hired Kelly away from Fox News in a high-profile deal. She was tasked with strengthening NBC’s daytime lineup, including hosting a new hour of MSNBC Live and a Sunday morning talk show. The move signaled NBC’s intent to blend news and opinion during the day, and Kelly’s name recognition was expected to draw viewers. However, the transition would soon be overshadowed by controversy and questions about fit.
The Blackface Controversy
In 2018, remarks Kelly made about blackface in a conversation on her show drew widespread criticism. She suggested that Halloween costumes involving darkening one’s skin were acceptable if the intent was to dress as a character, and that children dressing as ethnicities was a tradition. The comments were widely condemned as insensitive and historically inaccurate. Kelly apologized, NBC issued internal guidance, and the incident became a defining moment that strained her relationship with management and audiences.
Ratings and Executive Decisions
Even before the blackface controversy, initial ratings for Kelly’s new NBC programs were mixed, and they failed to meet ambitious targets. The network faced pressure to make costly changes, including moving production and adjusting formats. The combination of underperformance and the controversy led NBC executives to decide not to renew her daytime hour. The Sunday show was also discontinued, effectively ending her NBC tenure prematurely.
Post-NBC Work and Current Role
After leaving NBC, Kelly remained in the public eye through interviews, commentary, and a variety of speaking and media engagements. In 2019, she began serving as an executive producer for The Kelly Clarkson Show, a daytime talk show hosted by singer Kelly Clarkson. Her role focuses on talent development and creative oversight rather than on-camera hosting. She has also continued to appear occasionally on cable news and podcasts, maintaining a presence in the media landscape.
Key Timeline and Milestones
| Date or Period | Event | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Early 2000s–2016 | Local TV and Fox News anchor roles | Built recognition and reputation as a hard-news interviewer |
| October 2017 | Joins NBC News; hosts new daytime hour and Sunday show | NBC invests in her profile to boost daytime viewership |
| October 2018 | Blackface comments spark backlash and apology | Undermines credibility and accelerates internal concerns|
| Late 2018 | NBC does not renew her daytime hour; Sunday show ends | Ends her signature NBC role ahead of schedule |
| 2019 onward | Executive producer on The Kelly Clarkson Show; occasional commentary | Shifts toward daytime talk and entertainment, away from hard news |
Lessons and Takeaways
- Transition from local and cable news to national network roles can amplify both reach and scrutiny.
- Comments on race and identity carry significant weight in national media and can quickly overshadow professional reputation.
- Ratings performance and cultural fit are decisive factors in high-profile anchor contracts, even for established names.
- Roles in daytime television can evolve from hard news toward entertainment and production-focused positions.