Megyn Kelly and NBC News have begun exit negotiations, signaling that the star anchor’s brief tenure at the network is likely coming to an end, people familiar with the matter said.
Ms. Kelly, host of the hourlong show “Megyn Kelly Today,” which airs weekdays in the 9 a.m. hour, came under fire for remarks this week that were viewed inside and outside the network as racially insensitive.
On the Tuesday edition of Ms. Kelly’s morning show, a discussion about Halloween turned controversial when she suggested putting on a “blackface” as part of a costume isn’t necessarily racist.
“Back when I was a kid that was OK, as long as you were dressing up as, like, a character,” the 47-year-old Ms. Kelly said on the show.
There was an immediate backlash from within NBC News as several prominent black on-air figures, including “Today” personality Al Roker, expressed concern about the remarks. Ms. Kelly issued an apology Tuesday afternoon and again during the opening of Wednesday’s show.
Despite the apologies, NBC said it was keeping Ms. Kelly off the air for the rest of the week. While the network has made no official announcement on the fate of her morning show, people within the network indicated she won’t return.