Megyn Kelly is reportedly leaving NBC News just two days after she made comments about “blackface” and non-politically correct Halloween costumes.
NBC announced earlier on Thursday that they would air pre-recorded episodes of “Megyn Kelly Today” for the remainder of the week rather than having Kelly host a live show. The canceling of Kelly’s show appeared imminent and the former Fox News host left her talent agency and retained a top Hollywood lawyer. (RELATED: Megyn Kelly No Longer With Talent Agency)
“What is racist?” Kelly said on her show Tuesday. “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. Like back when I was a kid it was okay if you were dressing up as a character.”
Kelly apologized internally at NBC and then publicly on her show for the comments, but NBC appeared to be setting the stage for her departure regardless.
LAGUNA NIGUEL, CA – OCTOBER 02: Megyn Kelly speaks onstage at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit 2018 at Ritz Carlton Hotel on October 2, 2018 in Laguna Niguel, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Fortune)
“Megyn Kelly is done. She is not ever coming back,” an NBC executive told The Daily Mail about Kelly leaving the network.
“We are just working out timing of the announcement but mark my word – she is gone and will never be seen on NBC live again,” the executive added.
It is unclear how NBC will work out the host’s contract, which is worth $69 million.
The executive claimed she would be able to leave with all of the money because “her deal is a non-break deal.”