Megyn Kelly exits Fox and heads to NBC
In the wake of the Donald Trump surprise victory over Hillary Clinton is the fallout in the media and one major figure, Megyn Kelly, is making headlines as news broke that Kelly will leave the cable news giant and head to NBC News.
Kelly will host a daytime news and discussion program, anchor a Sunday-night news magazine show and be featured in NBC’s political programming and other big-event coverage, the network said Tuesday.
Kelly, 46, has been the host of Fox’s second-most-watched program, “The Kelly File,” and has been a breakout personality in the cable news landscape.
Trump’s attacks, some ambiguously towards women, particularly during the first Republican presidential debate in August 2015 gave Kelly more fame and leverage after the President-elect attacked her on Twitter.
Kelly rejected the rumored $20 million to remain as host of her daily program on Fox, a $5 million per year pay hike, to exit her contract which expires in the summer. She leaves behind a successful time slot at 9 p.m., following Bill O’Reilly’s “The O’Reilly Factor” at 8 p.m.
Rupert Murdoch, an executive chairman of 21st Century Fox, offered a supportive statement about her decision to leave.
“We thank Megyn Kelly for her 12 years of contributions to Fox News,” the statement read. “We hope she enjoys tremendous success in her career and wish her and her family the best.”
Kelly had spoken with top executives at ABC News, CNN and in the syndication industry, as well as NBC News, but NBC seemed like an unlikely spot to land.
The NY Times notes that a “daytime show would give her a schedule that would allow her to see her children off to school and to have dinner with them and her husband, Douglas Brunt, a novelist.”
Former anchor Gretchen Carlson and Kelly both came forward with multiple sexual-harassment allegations against Roger Ailes, its founder and former chairman. Ailes, who has denied the charges, but was ousted in July as more women came forward.
Fox is also dealing with the departure of longtime host Greta van Susteren in August.
