Megyn Kelly Is Apologizing For Saying That Blackface Isn’t Racist

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It wasn’t long after Megyn Kelly defended blackface that she was quick to apologize for the tone-deaf debacle, sending a note to NBC colleagues. 

“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,” she said, adding that she realizes “now” it is “indeed wrong,” adding her revelation that “the history of blackface in our culture is abhorrent, the wounds too deep.”

It was during a discussion on her program Tuesday morning (with an all-white panel by the way) that Megyn, who also insisted Santa Clause had to be white a few years ago, decided blackface Halloween costumes was a cause worth defending.

“What is racist?” she asked her panel — Jenna Bush Hager, MSNBC’s Jacob Soboroff and Melissa Rivers. The four were discussing campus attempts to discourage “inappropriate and offensive costumes” during Halloween season.

Megyn had said, “You do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface for Halloween or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween. Back when I was a kid, that was OK just as long as you were dressing as a character.”

Damn, Megyn…

Read the full statement to her colleagues below:

Dear friends & teammates –

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.

When we had the roundtable discussion earlier today about the controversy of making your face look like a different race as part of a Halloween costume, I suggested that this seemed okay if done as part of this holiday where people have the chance to make themselves look like others. The iconic Diana Ross came up as an example. To me, I thought, why would it be controversial for someone dressing up as Diana Ross to make herself look like this amazing woman as a way of honoring and respecting her?

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.

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.

I’m honored to work with all of you every day.

Love, Mk