Television host Megyn Kelly has issued a cryptic warning that there is "more truth coming" about Bari Weiss, the newly appointed editor-in-chief of CBS News. The declaration intensifies a bitter public feud between the two former friends, centring on debates about antisemitism, censorship, and the future of American conservatism.
A Friendship Fractured Publicly
The 55-year-old Kelly made her provocative statement in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. This came directly after she launched a scathing critique of Weiss, 41, in an interview with Vanity Fair, effectively declaring their friendship over.
Kelly was responding to conservative pollster Frank Luntz, who had asked about the tone of the magazine piece. "I was reliably informed this week that it is cowardly not to call out your friends with the unvarnished truth about their defects," Kelly wrote, pointedly referencing an accusation of cowardice levelled against her by commentator Ben Shapiro. "So my days of being a polite friend (to her) are over. And there’s more truth coming." The post had been viewed over 1.4 million times by Wednesday.
The Core of the Conflict: Israel and 'Cancel Culture'
In her Vanity Fair interview, Kelly argued that Weiss and Shapiro are part of a "very loud group of pro-Israel activists" using support for Israel as a litmus test for conservative credibility. She claimed their approach is counterproductive.
"Bari in particular has made her career on the anti-cancel culture thing. Meanwhile, she's never been canceled," Kelly stated. "And she's basically supporting Ben's attempt to cancel me from the conservative movement, of which she's not a part." Kelly further accused them of inadvertently fuelling antisemitism by attempting to clamp down on certain rhetoric. "They are making antisemites," she asserted. "Tucker [Carlson] is not making antisemites. They are."
The dispute was ignited after Weiss's news site, The Free Press, published a piece titled 'Only Cowards Tolerate Conspiracy Theorists'. It featured a speech Shapiro gave at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest, which criticised conservatives for not disavowing commentator Candace Owens and singled out Kelly.
Escalating Rhetoric and Professional Scrutiny
Kelly initially responded to Shapiro's speech on X, writing, "Only cowards take to the national stage or X to attack their 'friends' without so much as a phone call to discuss it." She added, "I don’t think we are friends anymore," and claimed she helped make Shapiro a star by featuring him on her Fox News show.
This very public falling out casts a shadow over Weiss's nascent tenure at CBS News. Industry insiders report her start has been rocky, citing the last-minute cancellation of a 60 Minutes segment and disappointing ratings for a high-profile town hall. This contrasts sharply with Kelly's initial praise when Weiss was hired in October, to which Weiss replied with heart emojis.
As of now, the nature of the "more truth" Kelly promises remains unclear. However, the very public implosion of this media alliance highlights deep ideological fractures within right-wing commentary, particularly regarding the war in Gaza, free speech, and the boundaries of political friendship.
