NBC has confirmed reports thatMegyn Kelly‘s 9 a.m.Todayshow hour has been canceled amid immense backlash for her controversial remarks about blackface earlier this week.
The network released a statement on Friday.
Multiple sources confirmed to PEOPLE on Thursday that Kelly’s hour hadbeen canceled.
“They’re contacting the staff and reassigning everyone today. Everyone’s being told that they still have a home here, but it won’t be on Megyn’s show,” one source said. “They haven’t made an official announcement about the show, but everyone knows what it means when they’re being moved somewhere else. The show is clearly over.”
Kelly did not appear live on air Thursday or Friday morning, with NBC announcing the rest of this week’s broadcasts had beenreplaced with pre-taped episodes.
“Given the circumstances,Megyn Kelly Todaywill be on tape the rest of the week,” an NBC spokesperson previously confirmed to PEOPLE.
On Friday, Kelly’sTodayshow colleagues addressedthe possibility of her “imminent departure” from NBC, with NBC News correspondent Morgan Radford sharing that according to a source familiar with the situation, Kelly entered talks with the network “this morning…about her imminent departure.”
According to NBC News, as of Thursday, conversations had “already started about Megyn’s exit from the network,” according to a source. Another source told the network that “representatives for Kelly are scheduled to meet on Friday with company executives,” adding that it appears “extremely unlikely” she’ll continue working at NBC following her departure fromToday.
Megyn Kelly.Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
While discussing attempts at universities to discourage “inappropriate and offensive costumes” on Tuesday, the former Fox News host asked: “But what is racist? Because truly, you do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface at Halloween or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween. Back when I was a kid, that was okay as long as you were dressing up as like a character.”
The outcry on social media was swift following the segment. On Wednesday, Kelly’s NBC colleaguescondemned her harshly on-air.Craig Melvincalled her remarks “indefensible” as well as “ignorant and racist,” andAl Rokerinsisted she “owes a bigger apology to folks of color around the country.”
source: people.com
