Megyn Kelly Apologizes For Extremely Controversial Halloween Comments
Megyn Kelly is now apologizing for comments she made during a segment of Megyn Kelly Today where she casually mentioned that she doesn't understand why wearing blackface on Halloween would be perceived as racist.
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. I’ve never been a ‘pc’ kind of person - but I understand that we do need to be more sensitive in this day and age," she wrote in an email to her colleagues. "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.
For context, she hosted a panel discussion on the show about controversial Halloween costumes. She prefaced the entire segment by saying she was "fired up" about the topic, adding that political correctness has "gone amuck."
At one point, Jack Soboroff of NBC News said that part of living in the U.S. is freedom of speech, which means being able to dress like an idiot and "actually dress and be racist." That's when Megyn stepped in.
"What is racist?" she said. "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. Back when I was a kid, that was okay just as long as you were dressing as a character."
Megyn Kelly wonders what the big deal is about blackface pic.twitter.com/07yvYDuAYe
- Tommy Christopher (@tommyxtopher) October 23, 2018
She listed Real Housewife Luann de Lesseps's Diana Ross Costume (which de Lesseps eventually apologized for) as an example of what she meant.
New hair, new me 💃🏻 I’m coming out #hair #hairstyle #inspired #DianaRoss
A post shared by Luann de Lesseps (@countessluann) on Nov 1, 2017 at 5:09pm PDT
"There was a controversy on The Real Housewives of New York with Luann, as she dressed as Diana Ross and she made her skin look darker than it really is," Kelly said. "People said that that was racist! And I don't know, like, I thought, like, 'Who doesn't love Diana Ross?' She wants to look like Diana Ross for one day. I don't know how that got racist on Halloween. It's not like she's walking around [wearing blackface] in general."
This is the part where I point out the wildly racist, harmful history of blackface-and, for that matter, the cultural appropriation of any group of people who have historically been oppressed-in America.
She finished by saying that she "can't keep up" with the number of people she offends by just being "normal." Sure, sure, OK!
When she came back on air Wednesday morning, she was welcomed with a standing ovation and addressed her viewers by reinforcing that she's not a "'pc' kind of person" and saying, "Yesterday, I learned."
"I want to begin with two words, I'm sorry..The country feels so divided and I have no wish to add to that pain and offense. I believe this is a time for more understanding, more love, more sensitivity and honor..Thank you for listening and for helping me listen too." Megyn Kelly pic.twitter.com/6hHrvZLNvK
- Megyn Kelly TODAY (@MegynTODAY) October 24, 2018
Megyn Kelly got a standing ovation from her studio audience after apologizing for her comments about blackface. pic.twitter.com/XtJjg0I6jC
- Max Tani (@maxwelltani) October 24, 2018
Update 10/24/2018 9:15 p.m.: This post has been updated to reflect Kelly's apology to her staff, per Variety, and her audience's reaction on Wednesday, October 25.
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