Megyn Kelly Apologizes for Defending Blackface Halloween Costumes

Megyn Kelly talks about Vladimir Putin during a March 2018 episode of Today. (Credit: Today/YouTube)

Megyn Kelly is apologizing for comments she made about blackface during Tuesday’s episode of Megyn Kelly Today.

Kelly, who is no stranger to controversy, incited widespread backlash when she defended Halloween costumes using blackface.

“But what is racist?” the journalist asked her guest panelists. “You truly 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 OK, as long as you were dressing up as like a character,” Kelly added.

Read MoreDrake Explains Blackface Photo Used on Pusha-T Diss Track

The television host then brought up Real Housewives of New York star Luann de Lesseps, who faced backlash last Halloween when she dressed up as Diana Ross and wore what appeared to be darker makeup on her skin.

“People said that was racist and I don’t know, I felt like, who doesn’t love Diana Ross? She wanted to look like Diana Ross for one day. I don’t know how that got racist on Halloween,” Kelly argued.

Guest panelists Jenna Bush Hager and NBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff both thought Lesseps’ getup crossed the line, a sentiment that didn’t sit well with Kelly.

“I can’t keep up with the number of people that we’re offending just by being normal people,” she countered.

Read MoreTelemundo Suspends Morning Show Hosts for Racist On-Air Gestures

But shortly after the segment aired, Kelly did an about-face and sent an apology email to her NBC colleagues.

“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,” the former Fox News host stated, according to Variety.

“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,” she added.

“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.”

Watch Kelly’s full segment below.

3 thoughts on “Megyn Kelly Apologizes for Defending Blackface Halloween Costumes

  1. Lenin and Stalin knew that if they could control language, they could control the masses.

  2. Total bullshit. Manufactured by Megyn to draw attention to herself and boost ratings with tearful phony apology. She can’t stand it when she is not center of attention.

Comments are closed.