Megyn Kelly leaving Fox News for NBC
Megyn Kelly, the Fox News anchor who famously got into a spat with then presidential candidate Donald Trump, has not denied rumors that she is leaving Fox News for a position at NBC.
The New York Times reported that Kelly, who has been at Fox for 12 years, will be leaving Fox after being offered a varied role at NBC that will reportedly include hosting her own daytime news and discussion program, anchor an in-depth Sunday night news show and be a part of the network’s special political programming and other big-event coverage.
This should be an interesting shift for the network, as Kelly comes to NBC after a very public feud where Trump consistently attacked her, often viciously, after she asked pointed questions during a debate about his treatment of women. The two later made up during an interview on Fox.
Things were strained with Fox, however, after Kelly came out with allegations that former Fox CEO Roger Ailes had sexually harassed her, which she claims in her memoir, Settle for More.
Kelly’s ambitions were not set solely by wanting to leave Fox. According to several tweets by NPR’s David Folkenflik, Kelly’s departure was partly due to Fox’s heavy right leaning tendencies, her desire to stake out her own reputation and model for her career – “less cable chat, more like Diane Sawyer, straddling serious news and lighter interviews/features."
The new deal, which has not yet been announced by NBC, will reportedly either match or surpass the more than $20m a year that Fox reportedly offered her to stay after her current contract expires this summer.
Kelly had also stated that she wants to spend more time with her children while continuing to push forward on a broader range of news besides the usual political combat.
One reason given for Kelly’s choosing of NBC was that NBC News chairman Andrew Lack offered her a deal that was tailored to her preferences, allowing her time for her children and husband, Douglas Brunt, along with a daytime show that would fit that schedule.