Days after Megyn Kelly’s controversial comments about blackface, NBC News is reportedly severing ties with her.
» RELATED: Reports: 'Megyn Kelly Today' to end, remaining shows this week are taped
On Friday morning, Today said the journalist will be relieved of her duties as host of "Megyn Kelly Today," calling her departure "imminent."
NBC News announced she’d be off the air the rest of the week and that repeats of “Megyn Kelly Today” would be shown instead.
Details of her exit deal have not been disclosed. However, other publications have reported that the network will pay out the remainder of her salary. She reportedly has a $69 million, three-year contract and was just one year into the agreement.
The anchor’s departure comes just days after she questioned the protests about wearing blackface for Halloween during a segment on her show Tuesday.
“What is racist? Because you do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface on Halloween, or a black person that puts on whiteface for Halloween,” she said. “And back when I was a kid, that was OK, as long as you were dressing up as, like, a character.”
Soon after her comments aired, folks on social media sent a barrage of tweets condemning her, and Kelly later apologized by sending an internal email to her colleagues and friends. She also apologized on air Wednesday during her show.
“I want to begin with two words: I'm sorry,” she said. “You may have heard that yesterday we had a conversation about political correctness and Halloween costumes... I defended the idea (of blackface), saying that as long it was respectful and part of a Halloween costume, that it seemed OK. Well, I was wrong, and I am sorry.”
About the Author
