Megyn Kelly speaks out for the first time since NBC axing
Since Megyn Kelly abruptly parted ways with NBC — in a deal that’s still being worked out — people have been waiting for her to break her silence and say what’s next. Well, she has, but it’s not at all what anyone was expecting.
Kelly gave her “EXCLUSIVE” first interview to, of all places, the tabloid the Daily Mail. In it, the newswoman doesn’t at all discuss the elephant in the room — how she was axed for defending her blackface comments on NBC’s Megyn Kelly Today (despite a tearful apology) — but instead talks about … Christmas.
Kelly spoke about what holiday movie her family likes to watch (It’s a Wonderful Life), song that makes her cry (“Silent Night”) and present she loved the most as a child (a toss-up between Stretch Armstrong and the Incredible Hulk toys). She also shared her dream of one day getting her family (husband Doug Brunt and their three children) to go caroling but said they aren’t into the idea.
The most revealing part of the interview was when she spoke about how the holidays are bittersweet for her because, as a 15-year-old, her father died 10 days before Christmas. “It was a sudden heart attack, and it changed my family forever,” she said. “My last sight of him was of him sitting on the couch, looking at the Christmas tree.”
The piece would have been totally normal had she not been making headlines for the last month for being forced out at NBC. She’s currently negotiating her exit package from the network, with reports saying an agreement has been reached on the financial terms (she’ll reportedly earn $30 million just to “go away”). And it’s that saga people want to know about — as well as where she’ll land — more than that she and her husband “have finally realized we need to pre-make the coffee the night before so it’s just a button press” on Christmas morning.
The even bigger head-scratcher of it all is why Kelly, who was on Fox News prior to joining NBC in 2017, spoke to the Daily Mail. After all, it was less than a month ago that she took to Twitter to blast a reporter from the outlet for breaking the law by somehow taking photos of her husband “IN OUR HOME.” She also accused the outlet of following her and her kids to school — and claimed the Daily Mail “secretly videotaped my 7-yr-old child (her classmates too) & posted it.” Her irate tweet ended with: “THIS IS NOT RIGHT.”
2 of 2: The DailyMail 1st published photos of my husb IN OUR HOME & then *did* photog my kids, trailed us to my daughter’s school, & secretly videotaped my 7-yr-old child (her classmates too) & posted it. THIS IS NOT RIGHT.
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) October 31, 2018
The reporter who did the interview with Kelly, Jill Ishkanian, has long been making headlines of her own in the media world. She worked for Us Weekly and after leaving was accused of hacking into company computers to obtain information. The FBI later raided Ishkanian’s home to confiscate her computer. She later sued the mag for $55 million, but the court dismissed her lawsuit and awarded Us Weekly, when still owned by Jann Wenner, legal fees. Ishkanian was also accused of underhanded tactics related to Heather Locklear’s DUI arrest in 2008. An anonymous caller contacted police to say Locklear was driving erratically, and the Melrose Place star was subsequently arrested. During the arrest, paparazzi appeared and photographed Locklear — and the pics were sold to TMZ for $27,500. However, TMZ later called out Ishkanian as being “up to no good,” claiming she was the anonymous person who called 911 and “the one who tipped off the paparazzi,” leading to a big payday for herself. Her lawyer denied Ishkanian set up the star to be arrested and photographed.
Needless to say, this all seems like a very strange next move for Kelly. But, hey, it’s been a wild month in the life of the TV personality.
[Editor’s Note: This story has been updated, including to correct the description of Jill Ishkanian’s departure from Us Weekly.]
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