‘Today” show host Megyn Kelly got personal on Wednesday, telling her audience that after her famous dust-up with Donald Trump during the first Republicans debate in August 2015, she got angry voicemails from viewers calling her “a real C-word.”
“On my voice mail after the August 15th debate after, I asked [Donald Trump] that question about misogyny, I got all these voicemails saying, ‘You’re a real C word,'” Kelly said. “And there was one that said, and I quote, ‘No one gives a damn about misogyny.'”
The moment Kelly referenced took place in August 2015, during the first Republican presidential debate in which Kelly ferociously confronted Trump — then a long-shot candidate — about his history of misogynistic comments over the years.
Kelly also discussed Time Magazine’s decision to name the “silence breakers” who launched the #MeToo movement as this year’s Person of the Year.
She cited a line from the Time story which cited the release of Trump’s “Access Hollywood” tape — in which he bragged about grabbing women by the genitals — as a pivotal moment in creating the movement.
“There’s a line in the Time piece that says Trump’s election after the ‘Access Hollywood’ tape and the language we heard from him on it — not to mention the 16 accusers who came out about him — stoked the fire,” said Kelly.
Watch above.
11 Women Who Have Left Fox News Shows, From Megyn Kelly to Laurie Dhue (Photos)
Fox News has enhanced the careers of numerous women who have served as hosts. All were hired by Roger Ailes, the former network boss who exited in August 2016 amid a sexual harassment scandal.
Greta Van Susteren -- who had been one of Ailes' most stalwart defenders -- left in early September 2016 after saying that Fox had "not felt like a home" for years.
Laurie Dhue was a familiar presence on Fox in the early 2000s but left the network in 2008. She has reportedly been shopping a tell-all book this year.
Outspoken host Elisabeth Hasselbeck left "The View" to join "Fox & Friends" in 2013, which she exited at the end of 2015.
Andrea Tantaros, former co-host of "The Five," filed a lawsuit saying that Fox News operated like a "sex-fueled, Playboy-Mansion-like cult."
Alisyn Camerota hosted a number of Fox News programs during a 16-year run that ended in 2014. She now hosts "New Day" on CNN.
Rudi Bakhtiar jumped from CNN to Fox News in 2006. She claimed she was sexually harassed by correspondent Brian Wilson and later spoke out against Fox News' culture after the Ailes scandal broke. She now works at Reuters.
Kiran Chetry was a Fox News host from 2001 to 2007. She was reportedly also an aspirant for a role on "Fox & Friends," the network's morning show.
Libertarian commentator Jedediah Bila appeared on Fox's "Outnumbered" and later turned up on ABC's "The View."
Her lawsuit started it all: Former Fox host Gretchen Carlson claims Ailes repeatedly sexually harassed her. Her suit was later settled for a reported $20 million.
Megyn Kelly ended her 12-year run with Fox News in early 2017 in exchange for a weekday show at NBC. She turned down a four-year, $100 million offer to stay with Fox News saying that one of the reasons for her departure was to spend more time with her kids. Kelly said she was among those at Fox News sexually harassed by Ailes.
"Happening Now" anchor Jenna Lee announced that she was leaving the Fox News after working there for 10 years. Lee said she still loves being a journalist and that she has "some really big ideas on how to better serve you in that particular arena" without Fox News.
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The Roger Ailes and Bill O’Reilly scandals have cast even some old departures in a new light
Fox News has enhanced the careers of numerous women who have served as hosts. All were hired by Roger Ailes, the former network boss who exited in August 2016 amid a sexual harassment scandal.
