Fox News anchor and conservative icon Megyn Kelly is leaving for a new role at NBC news.
In a statement on Facebook, Kelly announced her departure from Fox News saying, “I have decided to end my time at FNC, incredibly enriched for the experiences I've had. I have agreed to join NBC News, where I will be launching a new daytime show Monday through Friday, along with a Sunday evening news magazine program. ”
According to NPR correspondent, David Folkenflik, Kelly’s new change in networks is understandable after some especially troubling circumstances: "[Kelly's move] comes in the aftermath of her explosive accusations that former Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes had sexually harassed her earlier in her career. And that was on the heels of her colleague Gretchen Carlson alleging the same in a lawsuit. That led to the departure of Ailes and to significant questions about what path Fox News would take forward. Her departure only raise the stakes for Fox."
Though Kelly has often been perceived as a conservative icon, she was not supported by her undeniably conservative network after being attacked repeatedly by Donald Trump during his campaign. Kelly revealed in an interview with NPR's Kelly McEvers, that she received death threats from Trump supporters for months. Also in the interview, she revealed her troubles with Trump and her colleagues, "My boss, Roger Ailes, was not able to stand Trump down. My friend Sean Hannity, who is a big Trump booster as you know, he was not able to stand Trump down. No one was able to stop his antics.”
Kelly’s contract with Fox news expires this summer and The New York Times reported that her current network offered more than $20 million a year but NBC managed to win her over:
"The NBC News chairman, Andrew Lack, wooed Ms. Kelly away from Fox News by offering her a triple role in which she will host her own daytime news and discussion program, anchor an in-depth Sunday night news show and take regular part in the network's special political programming and other big-event coverage."
See the full interview below: