Veteran news anchor Megyn Kelly has unleashed a scathing critique of NBC's Today show, condemning the network for an "vicious, thoughtless, heartless, nasty" Instagram post that she says insensitively coincided with the ongoing search for host Savannah Guthrie's missing mother, Nancy.
A Tone-Deaf Tribute
The controversial post in question featured Today co-host Sheinelle Jones sharing a tender moment with the mother of Disney star Adrienne Bailon-Houghton. The caption read, "Nothing beats a mom hug." But with Guthrie's 84-year-old mother still missing after being reportedly abducted from her Arizona home earlier this month, many viewers found the timing of the post to be deeply insensitive.
Megyn Kelly's Scathing Rebuke
In an explosive blog post, Kelly did not hold back, lambasting the Today show for its "despicable" actions. "She is suffering quite clearly, and this is what her colleagues do?" Kelly wrote. "'Nothing beats a mom hug.' I'm sorry, network television is a vicious, thoughtless, heartless, nasty place, and you should not be misled into thinking you are watching loving, wonderful people."
A History of Tensions
Kelly's criticism also stems from her own tumultuous history with the Today show. The former Fox News host was fired from the NBC program in 2018 after facing backlash for comments she made about blackface. While Kelly acknowledged her "bias" against the network, she argued that the post was an "intentional move" or a "despicable gaffe" that deserved to be called out.
The Bigger Picture
What this really means is that the Today show's misstep has reignited a long-simmering feud between the network and one of its former stars. But more importantly, it shines a harsh light on the lack of sensitivity and empathy that can sometimes pervade the cutthroat world of network television, even in the face of a deeply personal tragedy. As the search for Nancy Guthrie continues, one hopes the Today show will learn from this episode and show more compassion for their own colleagues in their time of need.