The NBC-owned station WVIT in Connecticut will not air Megyn Kelly’s interview with Alex Jones, TheWrap has learned.
The station serves the region of Connecticut that includes Newtown, the town where the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary took place in 2012. In an internal memo, the station objected to the “Info Wars” host’s previous claims that the shooting — which left 28 people dead, including 20 children — was a hoax orchestrated using actors.
“Over the last few days, we have listened intently to Sandy Hook parents, our viewers and importantly, to you. We have considered the deep emotions from the wounds of that day that have yet to heal,” the memo read. “Because those wounds are understandably still so raw, we have decided not to air this week’s episode of ‘Sunday Night With Megyn Kelly.'”
Kelly first came under fire when NBC previewed a portion of the upcoming interview with Jones last Sunday night. Critics immediately expressed concern that NBC was giving the conspiracy theorist a platform.
During the 97-second preview, Jones calls the attacks of Sept. 11 an “inside job,” questions the legitimacy of the shootings at Sandy Hook and says, “Thirty years ago, they began creating animal-human hybrids. Isn’t that the big story Megyn Kelly should be doing?”
Kelly later took to Twitter to defend the situation, writing that she finds Jones’ suggestion that Sandy Hook was a hoax “as personally revolting as every other rational person.” She explained that she wanted to feature him on the program to “shine a light” on his views given his relationship to President Donald Trump, who has appeared on Jones’ show in the past.
Jones himself has called for the interview not to air, claiming that Kelly misrepresented his views. On Thursday night, Jones leaked audio he recorded during the interview.
In a statement on Friday, an NBC spokesperson said the network will still air the interview as planned: “Despite Alex Jones’ efforts to distract from and ultimately prevent the airing of our report, we remain committed to giving viewers context and insight into a controversial and polarizing figure, how he relates to the president of the United States and influences others, and to getting this serious story right. Tune in Sunday.”
Read the WVIT’s public statement regarding the decision not to air it below:
Whenever there is news regarding the Sandy Hook tragedy, the pain resurfaces for our community and our viewers. With the upcoming interview airing on Sunday Night With Megyn Kelly, WVIT NBC Connecticut will make sure to give voice to those most affected by the tragedy, and most impacted by the interview.
Additionally, anchor Kevin Nathan is in Washington, DC tonight to cover the Sandy Hook Promise Champions gala. As part of that reporting, we are talking to local parents and covering their commitment to change.
We will continue our coverage throughout the week, including a special report on our Sunday 11 p.m. newscast after Sunday Night With Megyn Kelly.
NBC Connecticut is committed to giving the Sandy Hook families a voice, today, tomorrow and in the future.
Trump's Relationship to Alex Jones: A Breakdown (Photos)
The recent backlash against Megyn Kelly and NBC for interviewing Alex Jones has renewed the spotlight on the host of conservative show "Info Wars." Kelly said in a statement Tuesday that she wanted to interview Jones because of his ties with President Donald Trump. Here's a breakdown of their relationship.
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Trump and Jones began a relationship on Trump's campaign trail, and have peddled some of the same conspiracy theories, according to Mother Jones. Perhaps Trump's most popular conspiracy theory is that President Barack Obama wasn't born in the United States (he was), a theory also perpetuated by Jones.
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In December 2015, Trump was a guest on Jones' show. Jones introduced Trump as "a maverick" who "tells it like it is." Jones opened the show by praising Trump for taking attacks from media outlets like the Washington Post and the New York Post. Jones theorizes that the attacks on 9/11 were a hoax; it was surprising that a Republican candidate would go on a show whose host postures that the previous Republican president was part of such an elaborate hoax.
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At a January 2016 campaign event, Trump called Jones "a nice guy."
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In February 2016, senior policy advisor to Trump Stephen Miller appeared on "Info Wars," and repeatedly spoke to Jones' audience asking for support. "If you want to stop the Trans-Pacific Partnership, if you want to close the border, if you want to protect American jobs and wages, then you have to support Donald J. Trump," Miller said.
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"Hillary for prison" became the rallying cry at the 2016 Republican National Convention. The phrase was initially found on merchandise on the "Info Wars" website. Jones was a "special guest" at the convention.
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Trump continued to parrot Jones' ideas. Last August, Jones said, "It is surreal to talk about issues here on air, and then word-for-word hear Trump say it two days later."
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Also last August, Jones said on his show that he personally talked to Trump and encouraged him to push the idea that the election would be rigged. Trump did end up pushing this idea. "I'm afraid the election's going to be rigged. I have to be honest," Trump said at an Ohio campaign stop.
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In November 2016, Trump's advisor Roger Stone told the Washington Post that Jones would be a "valuable asset" to Trump.
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After the election, Jones said in an "Info Wars" video that Trump called him to thank him. "I wanted to talk to you to thank your audience," Jones said the then-president-elect told him.
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Even Hillary Clinton weighed in on Trump's reliance on Jones for ideas throughout the campaign, and released an attack ad featuring Jones. "This is what Trump listens to," says the ad as Jones talks about chemicals put in the water to make people gay.
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Jones' website is full of references to "presstitutes," and discredits news organizations like NPR and CNN. Trump is known for discrediting several news organizations. For example, in February he called the media "the enemy."
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POTUS calls conspiracy theorist profiled by Megyn Kelly ”a nice guy“
The recent backlash against Megyn Kelly and NBC for interviewing Alex Jones has renewed the spotlight on the host of conservative show "Info Wars." Kelly said in a statement Tuesday that she wanted to interview Jones because of his ties with President Donald Trump. Here's a breakdown of their relationship.