Megyn Kelly is apologizing for comment she made on Tuesday's show in which she seemingly defended blackface Halloween costumes.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Megyn Kelly is apologizing for she made on Tuesday's Megyn Kelly Today in which she seemingly defended blackface Halloween costumes.
In an internal email, Kelly wrote that she's heard from colleagues and friends and realizes her comments were wrong, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
"What is racist?" she asked her panelists during a segment about controversial Halloween costumes. "Because truly you 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 okay as long as you were dressing up as like a character."
In her memo sent later on Tuesday, she wrote: "One of the wonderful things about my job is that I get the chance to express and hear a lot of opinions. 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."
During the show, Kelly also defended Real Housewives of star Luann de Lessep's from last Halloween. "Who doesn't love Diana Ross? She wants to look like Diana Ross for one day, and I don't know how that got racist on Halloween," Kelly said.
The comments sparked immediate backlash online, with stars such as Padma Lakshmi, Roy Wood Jr. and Patton Oswalt calling out the NBC host.
The NBC host recounted the segment in her email, in which she "suggested that this seemed okay if done as part of this holiday where people have the chance to make themselves look like others," she continued. "I realize now that such behavior is indeed wrong, and I am sorry. The history of blackface in our culture is abhorrent; the wounds too deep."
Kelly concluded her email to colleagues speaking about "sensitivity" over issues of race. "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. 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."
This isn't the first time Kelly has gotten in hot water for such comments. In 2013, she sparked controversy on Fox News, “For you kids watching at : Santa just is white.”
She later added: “Just because it makes you feel uncomfortable doesn’t mean it has to change. You know, I mean, Jesus was a whiteman too.” The comments came during a segment discussing an article arguing that Santa Claus shouldn't always be depicted as white.
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Why not just avoid blackface?
During the show they also mention the "Anne Frank" Halloween costume for kids, and whether that should be allowed.
Why would anyone want to dress their little girl as a Holocaust victim when they go trick or treating? It doesnt even make any sense.
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Megyn Kelly was previously best known, in pc and anti-pc circles, for claiming in a segment on her old Fox News show that "everyone knows Santa Claus is white".
Uh, imaginary characters that no one ever actually sees can be any color.
Why not? She may have died yet she is considered a hero by some.
Poor taste. Let's not involve little kids in these pc battles.
Maybe a kid read about her, read her memoirs and wanted to honor her.
I would let the kid if they wanted to. It would not be something out of malice.
Blackface is just stupidity. It can trace its roots back a long ways.
I don't think an Anne Frank halloween costume is appropriate. It seems inherently exploitative.
"appropriate." ? ?
I fear that is a term that has lost its luster these past couple of years.
Then let's bring it back.
Speculating. But I suspect the 'right wing' shelf life is expiring. However, I sincerely hope it's demise creates little pain and suffering. Unfortunately, the lessons of history often prove that not to be the case.
The fictional character of Santa Claus is white. Deriving from christian European, Scandinavian and Russian origins. In that sense, Megyn Kelly is correct.
He's only white because white people have told his story.
Santa Claus is invisible and is a mythical character. He has no color.
My point. Santa was 'invented' by white people. Same reason many 'christian paintings' depict Jesus as white, fair haired and blue eyed.
If white kids want to see santa as white, that is fine
if black kids want to see santa as black, that is fine
Megyn Kelly should have known better than to make an issue out of that on a national television show
We are in agreement. There is much more important things to discuss than convenient, enjoyable but non-existent fables.
Although in all my many, many, years, I have not once seen kids or adults dressed for Holloween
as Santa Claus...
jest saying...
She still has a show?
she's spinning and back peddling on it now
Like this?
Just another example how ultra-PC is spiralling out of control. We are on our way to make Aldous Huxley's predictive Brave New World actually happen. Amazon describes it well (bolding is mine to make my point):
You are in favor of blackface costumes Buzz?
Just making a point about the creeping ultra-overzealous PC that you obviously support. Personally, I wouldn't mind looking like Denzel Washington.
Did the social justice warriors piss on Eddie Murphy in the movie Coming to America?
Things were looked at differently 30 years ago. I doubt they could make that same movie today.
But they still play that movie on TV frequently. I see it on one of the channels at least once a month.
And how long ago was it when Disney's "Song of the South" was banned in the US? You can still see and buy it in Europe but not in the US.
While I most certainly agree that many have pushed the PC thing to the point of absurdity, this is a bit different as it is akin to the revival of minstrel shows.
There are some things that are better off in the back of History's closet, this is one of them.
there's already a strong resemblance to part of his anatomy
Not banned. Never released in the US.
but various parts are on the internet, Youtube, etc
Why is it unsafe?
Why would anyone want to remove a ride?
It was released to theaters when it was initially made, I remember seeing it as a child. But then the early culture started against it and now it has never been released in a format that you can view it at home.
More absurdity feeding into the 'over fed' Trump base. Hell, the Trump has begun a nuclear weapons free for all. Except the nuclear weapons aren't free and its just one more damn useless thing we taxpayers will be on 'the hook' for.
Besides. Any nekkid pictures of Megyn out there somewhere?
MAGA
Typical leftist response. We can't even talk about these issues. It's just too much fun to pile on a well-meaning person who isn't properly "woke" and speaking like all the popular kids do.
Is Santa Claus white?
Historically, sure, but like many characters, he doesn't have to be. Sometimes it matters, but I don't think there's anything about Santa's character or actions that requires it.
I think the issue was more Kelly supporting blackface, not having to do with talking about it.
OK, but let's be fair to her. Is she supporting blackface as it was known in the 19th century, when it was used to mock and demean African Americans? Or is she supporting going all out for your Halloween costume?
If you wanted to dress up as Diana Ross, and you kept your face white, might that not be seen as disrespectful to Diana Ross? (I wouldn't care, but you could make that argument) Factually, she is black. If you want to look like her, shouldn't you try to look like her as much as possible? And if that's the person's goal, why be angry?
Well, then let's talk about it. What is right about black face?
Blackface, of course, has a mean and racist past. But many things in our history that have been done for cruelty have also been done for benign - even fun - reasons. It's the context that matters.
I think it's reasonable to consider if it will ever be ok for people to use makeup to appear as a certain race when they're trying to do something relatively harmless like dress up for Halloween. Part of dressing up is the fun of pretending to be someone you are not just for an evening. Halloween is not intended to hurt anyone's feelings the way blackface was in the past.
I don't think it's fair to assume that a person in the 21st century pretending to be Diana Ross has the same kind of motivations as someone who put on blackface to mock African Americans in the 19th century.
Does anyone recall Rachel Dolezal .. she darkened her skin daily to 'identify' as a black woman - black women embraced her, parading her around on talk shows, Melissa Harris Perry was drooling on herself trying to come up with a way of describing and defending Dolezal .. so forgive me if I cannot get all up in arms about blackface being racist at Halloween ... it is nothing more than selective outrage.
Dressing up in blackface at Halloween is racist.
Everyone is printing a list of 'offensive' costumes now. I saw one that included Stormy Daniels! Really? Nothing that depicts any cultures...no prison outfits...no fatty costumes...no LGBT stuff (although non-surgery transgenders may do so)...no famous people as zombies...If you're white a white Santa is okay, if you're black - a black Santa is okay. Absolutely NO ALTERING skin color. Forget about dressing like the Easter Bunny - unless you do indeed have floppy ears. Nothing that depicts genitals...that's right ladies - you must pack up your vagina costumes. Nothing religious - that covers ALL religions. No costumes depicting tragedies. Absolutely no terrorist costumes. The lists go on forever...children cannot dress as their favorite cartoon characters unless their skin tone matches the character. No more make-believe folks...this Halloween stuff is serious business.
Perhaps I should put a sign on my door - if your costume offends me - NO CANDY FOR YOU!
* sidebar - But please - depict the President of the United States in any way you want - 'cause you don't like him. Who cares if that offends anyone - those who might be offended are stupid anyway - right?
Ooops #10 is in response to you .. I cannot for some reason copy and paste it here .. my bad...
She apparently missed the Ted Danson/Whoopie Goldberg episode, did not have the ending they expected either.
There is a house about a mile from me that always goes all out on Halloween - not only did they give out great candy generously .. they have a haunted maze to go through just to get to their door - my boys loved going there as lil peeps … last year there was a petition circulated to stop the 'offensive' display at the awesome Halloween house - this year there is NO decorations... May as well cancel Halloween if this is the direction PC is heading
or the First Lady, seems to be open season on depicting her anyway one wants to...
That will be next - NO HALLOWEEN FOR YOU!
The Original Jim Crow (Who was Jim Crow?)
Throughout the 1830s and '40s, the white entertainer Thomas Dartmouth Rice (1808-1860) performed a popular song-and-dance act supposedly modeled after a slave. He named the character Jim Crow. Rice darkened his face, acted like a buffoon, and spoke with an exaggerated and distorted imitation of African American Vernacular English. In his Jim Crow persona, he also sang "Negro ditties" such as "Jump Jim Crow."
Rice was not the first white comic to perform in blackface, but he was the most popular of his time, touring both the United States and England. As a result of Rice's success, "Jim Crow" became a common stage persona for white comedians' blackface portrayals of African Americans.
Jim Crow and Segregation (What was Jim Crow?)
After the American Civil War (1861-1865), most southern states and, later, border states passed laws that denied blacks basic human rights. It is not clear how, but the minstrel character's name "Jim Crow" became a kind of shorthand for the laws, customs and etiquette that segregated and demeaned African Americans primarily from the 1870s to the 1960s.
Father of Minstrelsy
Minstrel shows were popular musical stage shows from the 1830s to the early 1900s. The performers, their faces artificially blackened, played the roles of ignorant, lazy, joyous blacks. Audiences roared with laughter. Thomas Dartmouth Rice is known as the Father of Minstrelsy.
Blackening Up
When performing as minstrels, white performers used burnt cork and greasepaint or shoe polish to darken their skin and red or white makeup to exaggerate their lips. They also wore woolly wigs and ragged clothes to imitate and ridicule African Americans. Ironically, by the 1840s, even some black entertainers were darkening their already dark skin and performing in blackface as minstrels.
Popularity of Minstrel Shows
With the popularization of radio and motion pictures in the 1920s, professional minstrel shows lost much of their national following. However, amateur minstrel shows continued in local theaters, community centers, high schools, and churches as late as the 1960s.
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An American Caste System
Jim Crow refers to the racial hierarchy that defined American life through a set of laws and practices which operated primarily, but not exclusively, in southern and border states between 1877 and the mid-1960s. This hierarchy, with whites at the top and blacks at the bottom, was supported by millions of everyday objects and images.