The Hollywood Reporter reports tonight that CAA, the Hollywood mega-agency, has dropped Megyn Kelly as a client. Normally this isn’t the sort of news we’d take much notice of. But it’s a good barometer of the degree to which she’s quickly become radioactive in the entertainment and quasi-news world after her blackface comments. NBC News Chief Andy Lack blasted her in a NBC News staff town hall today. They are apparently already negotiating the end of her morning show, which – critically – simply hasn’t done very well.
This is one of those cases where I am a bit confused by what appears to be her sudden downfall. That’s not because I’m surprised by the response so much as because it’s not really clear why this is doing her in after so many other things didn’t.
It’s worth remembering that Kelly made her name running a day time show on Fox News which specialized in standard issue Fox News conspiracy theories and race-baiting news story arcs like the endless coverage of the obscure and minuscule New Black Panther Party during the early years of the Obama administration.
Whatever ‘that’ is Kelly was good at it. She’s smart, aggressive and does that Fox News thing well. Believe me, I’ve had to watch Fox News for more than a decade. I have a lot of experience in Foxology. It’s a mystery to me why anyone thought she could make the transition to a mainstream, largely apolitical environment. It just doesn’t make sense. Why is anyone surprised by this?
