Megyn Kelly is under fire after defending President Donald Trump's comment to CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, telling her to "smile," with a reference to guidance she claims to have received from the late Fox News executive Roger Ailes.
During an interview on her SiriusXM show, Kelly cited a past conversation where she offered similar advice to Collins and claimed that Ailes used to tell female anchors to "be more presentable" or "put a smile on their face." Critics are slamming Kelly for invoking Ailes' name in this context, given his history of harassment allegations.
The comment, made during an exchange about newly released Epstein-related documents, was widely condemned as sexist and dismissive of Collins' professional role. Many saw Kelly's defense as tone-deaf and hypocritical, particularly given her own past experiences with Ailes and the negative impact it had on her career.
Supporters argue that Kelly was simply sharing a personal anecdote from her time in television news, where producers and anchors often discuss their on-camera presence. However, critics argue that this doesn't excuse the sexist undertones of Trump's comment or justify Kelly's decision to defend it.
The episode has reignited conversations about gendered language in journalism and how media figures revisit past critiques in light of present political alignments. As Kelly continues to align with conservative audiences and figures, including Trump, many are left wondering whether she is using her platform to push back against sexism or simply to advance her own career.
Kelly's response has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many calling for greater accountability from journalists who fail to address their past mistakes in the face of new controversies.
During an interview on her SiriusXM show, Kelly cited a past conversation where she offered similar advice to Collins and claimed that Ailes used to tell female anchors to "be more presentable" or "put a smile on their face." Critics are slamming Kelly for invoking Ailes' name in this context, given his history of harassment allegations.
The comment, made during an exchange about newly released Epstein-related documents, was widely condemned as sexist and dismissive of Collins' professional role. Many saw Kelly's defense as tone-deaf and hypocritical, particularly given her own past experiences with Ailes and the negative impact it had on her career.
Supporters argue that Kelly was simply sharing a personal anecdote from her time in television news, where producers and anchors often discuss their on-camera presence. However, critics argue that this doesn't excuse the sexist undertones of Trump's comment or justify Kelly's decision to defend it.
The episode has reignited conversations about gendered language in journalism and how media figures revisit past critiques in light of present political alignments. As Kelly continues to align with conservative audiences and figures, including Trump, many are left wondering whether she is using her platform to push back against sexism or simply to advance her own career.
Kelly's response has sparked widespread outrage on social media, with many calling for greater accountability from journalists who fail to address their past mistakes in the face of new controversies.
about her old days at fox news. ailes was a piece of work btw, no one's perfect 
. but seriously, if u cant take the heat, dont get into the fire 
. and btw, collins shouldve called kelly out for using that as an excuse 
. newsflash: some ppl r still bad @ heart 
... Like, she tries to spin this by saying it was just a harmless conversation about how anchors should present themselves, but honestly, it comes across as super calculated and try-hard. And can we talk about the fact that she's invoking Roger Ailes' name? That's like, a whole other can of worms right there 
... I mean, I get it, she wants to share some personal anecdote from her time in TV news, but do we really need this kind of baggage attached to it?
. It's like, hello, sexism and misogyny are very real problems, and just because you're saying it from a personal perspective doesn't make it okay. I'm not buying it, Megyn 
. And honestly, if she wants to stay relevant, she needs to be willing to have some tough conversations about these kinds of issues...
I'm totally shocked Megyn Kelly is still trying to spin this one 
. And let's be real, using your platform to defend a president who thinks it's okay to tell women on air to "smile" is just not cool 
. The whole thing reeks of her trying to stay relevant with conservative audiences rather than taking a stand against sexism and misogyny 
. I think she needs to take some time to reflect on why this comment was problematic in the first place and how she can do better in the future 
. We all make mistakes, but it's how we learn from them that matters 
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I gotta say, Megyn Kelly's comment had me feeling like I've seen this before - you know, the "be more presentable" vibe that just doesn't sit right. 
