UPDATE 3:49 P.M. EST: Megyn clearly got the message she was in the wrong as she felt compelled to write an apology.
Apparently, however, she wrote it not to the thousands of people she offended by saying that crap on TV but to her staff. (Maybe some threatened to quit?? Hmm…)
In an internal memo, Megyn wrote:
“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.
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. 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 ‘pc’ 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. 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.”
This is not a “PC” issue, and continuing to frame it as such implies the controversy is whipped up and not generated by very real offense.
As far as we’re concerned, it just shows she still hasn’t learned much at all.
What do YOU think??
___________
Ooof.
Seeing Megyn Kelly attacked by Donald Trump for being a woman got a lot of TV viewers (and execs) tailspun about whose side she’s on.
But on Tuesday she reminded everyone she’s still the same pundit who argued Santa Claus should always be white.
Related: Trump Is A Misogynist AND A Racist
During a discussion about Halloween costumes causing controversy, Megyn actually said these words:
“What is racist? 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. Back when I was a kid, that was OK, as long as you were dressing up as, like, a character.”
Maybe in the community she grew up in it *was* allowed. We can totally buy that. But in certain times and places in America people got away with murdering minorities, too. The fact it happened in the past is just not a solid argument for why it should be allowed today!
Now that you have the extra information from actually hearing from people of color that they would prefer you NOT put on blackface, maybe take that in and say OK I WILL NOT DO THAT instead of fighting them??
Oof. See the cringeworthy moment AND the Internet’s collective *face*palming (below):
Megyn Kelly wonders what the big deal is about blackface pic.twitter.com/07yvYDuAYe
— Tommy X-TrumpIsARacist-opher (@tommyxtopher) October 23, 2018
Here’s what folks had to say about it:
Dear @megynkelly — you and I are approximately the same age. Blackface was NOT okay when we were kids. Take it from a big-hearted boy who just wanted to show his love for Nipsey Russell on the worst Halloween of my life. https://t.co/pnsk0WmuTw
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) October 23, 2018
I cannot believe the ignorance on this in 2018. You are on national television. You have a responsibility to educate yourself on social issues @megynkelly. This is so damaging. https://t.co/R7UJzkDDG9 https://t.co/7qFkqGHfGJ
— Padma Lakshmi (@PadmaLakshmi) October 23, 2018
NBC cancelled the 9am hour of the Today Show hosted by Tamron Hall and Al Roker so Megyn Kelly, who gets paid more than twice their combined salaries, can do this. https://t.co/yINbQ8wptr
— ☕netw3rk (@netw3rk) October 23, 2018
Megyn Kelly thinks blackface Halloween costumes are okay because this system of white supremacy she grew up with also gave her a three-year, $69 million contract to anchor her own live morning show on NBC despite her low ratings.
— Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) October 23, 2018
Can someone please explain to me why Megyn Kelly still has a job? https://t.co/QF55Vzn6TG
— Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) October 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/KimberlyNFoster/status/1054736034875887616
https://twitter.com/ParkerMolloy/status/1054743113552535553
Maybe I’ll give up @TODAYshow and @NBCNightlyNews . I’ve only watched for 40 years or so.
I don’t want to support a network that supports @megynkelly . Her time at Fox is who she really was. https://t.co/D4B0WsEoI2
— Shakalaka (@CarlaCube) October 23, 2018
[Image via NBC News/YouTube.]
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