In a stunning and fiery rebuke, former Fox News heavyweight Megyn Kelly has turned her sights on her former employer and prominent conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, accusing them of peddling what she termed 'pathetic' and irresponsible election narratives to their audiences.
The eruption occurred on Kelly's own podcast, 'The Megyn Kelly Show', where she did not hold back in her criticism of the direction both Fox News and Kirk's organisation, Turning Point USA, have taken. Her primary grievance centres on their approach to the swirling speculation and commentary surrounding the 2024 presidential election.
A Clash of Conservative Titans
Kelly took specific aim at a recent segment featuring Charlie Kirk on Fox News. She expressed profound dismay at the network's platforming of what she considers baseless and inflammatory rhetoric, particularly claims that the election is already being 'stolen'.
'It's pathetic,' Kelly declared, her tone sharp with disapproval. 'This is not journalism; it's fearmongering. They are telling people, 'Don't trust the system, it's already rigged,' which is not just irresponsible, it's dangerous.'
The Fox News Factor and a Shifting Landscape
Kelly's critique extends beyond one individual, touching on a broader concern about Fox News's post-Rupert Murdoch era. She suggested the network's standards have slipped, allowing more extreme and less substantiated opinions to air under the guise of news.
This, she argues, is a betrayal of the audience's trust and a significant departure from the more rigorous, if ideologically slanted, approach she experienced during her tenure. Her comments highlight an ongoing internal struggle within conservative media between its populist wing and its more established institutional voices.
Charlie Kirk and the 'Rigged Election' Narrative
Charlie Kirk, founder of the influential conservative youth group Turning Point USA, has become a central figure in promoting claims of widespread electoral fraud. His frequent appearances on Fox News and other platforms have amplified these messages to millions of viewers.
Kelly singled out this strategy, arguing that preemptively declaring an election fraudulent without evidence serves only to undermine democratic institutions and set the stage for unnecessary chaos and division, regardless of the actual outcome.
Industry Repercussions and Audience Reaction
The public blow-up has sent ripples through the world of political commentary. Supporters of Kirk and Fox News have rushed to their defence, labelling Kelly an out-of-touch member of the 'old guard'. Conversely, many media watchdogs and figures from across the political spectrum have applauded her for calling out what they see as a corrosive trend in news media.
The incident underscores the intense and increasingly public debates over credibility, responsibility, and the very purpose of news networks in a deeply polarized political climate. It poses a critical question: is the role of these channels to inform viewers or to confirm their pre-existing biases?
As the 2024 election approaches, this clash of media titans signals more turbulent waters ahead for how news is consumed and trusted in Britain and beyond.
