Megyn Kelly Talks To Mediaite About Jon Stewart, Roger Ailes And Maternity Leave
Mediaite: MSNBC sort of goes out of its way to brand itself as the polar opposite of Fox News. What do you think, for example, about the idea of them hiring Al Sharpton as a host?
Kelly: I haven’t watched that show, so I feel a little behind the 8-ball in commenting on what he’s doing. But I’ll say this. I don’t think you have to hire someone as a newsperson who has no ideological bent. So I think we know where Reverend Al Sharpton stands on the issues. Who cares? As long as he doesn’t let it shine through in his reporting, as long as he’s offering, to steal our own term, a fair and balanced newscast. I don’t expect people to come to the table with no thoughts on politics and no preference for party. I just expect them to offer a fair newscast. So if he can do that despite his political leanings, more power to him.
Mediaite: Are you willing to make some news by sharing any other thoughts on MSNBC talent?
Kelly: I’ll say that I had a lovely lunch with Contessa Brewer, and I think she is a lovely woman.
Mediaite: We’ve posted a number of clips of you having fiery debates with any number of your guests – usually pretty compelling television. Do you see these sorts of conflagrations coming beforehand or do they come out organically?
Kelly: I would say it happens more organically. You have a certain guest who says something that’s beyond the pale and you’ve got to challenge them on it. Some days I’m only human, and I have emotions that sometimes run strong on the show and sometimes they don’t. I try to keep them in check, sometimes successfully, sometimes unsuccessfully. Hopefully my viewers will forgive me for going over the top and bear with me when I’m having a slow news day myself.
Mediaite: One of your classic counterparts was Anthony Weiner, whose story and undoing you mostly missed because you were away. Can you explain your thoughts on Weiner, and would you ever have him come on again?
Kelly: It’s funny, because I was thinking in the context of the Stewart thing, I haven’t had a man who’s been focused on attacking me since Anthony Weiner. And we all know how that ended.
Congressman Weiner came on, he gave spirited debates, I really respected him for never deviating from his core beliefs when it came to the issues on the air. Because some people will say one thing behind the scenes, then they’ll come on camera and they won’t say that thing. He was true to his political beliefs no matter the setting. At least, that was my experience with him. And he was a good sparring partner. It was fun. It didn’t have to be contentious with him, but he’ll get so ornery that it wound up being a good exchange every time he came on.
On Anthony Weiner: I was shocked when I first heard the news when I was on maternity leave, and at first I did not believe he was the guilty party. I couldn’t believe that he would have done those things. To me, it seemed so reckless, I just couldn’t believe he could be so reckless. “
I was shocked when I first heard the news when I was on maternity leave, and at first I did not believe he was the guilty party. I couldn’t believe that he would have done those things. I just couldn’t believe he could be so reckless. I don’t know what people do behind closed doors in terms of naughty pictures on the internet and so on and so forth. I don’t know and I don’t judge. But for an elected U.S. congressman to be acting that way is reckless, plain and simple.
I also, from a romantic standpoint, am scratching my head about how a newlywed could be behaving that way behind his wife’s back. I still don’t understand it, I don’t know if I ever will. So I was sad when I heard the news that it was true, and he was copping to it. Now his career’s in tatters, and his marriage is obviously going through a lot of tumult. I felt very sad for his wife. For him, I don’t know what to feel. He sent me a nice note after Yardley was born, I appreciate that, and, you know, I don’t wish any ill will on anybody. But mostly I just feel sad for him and his family.
Mediaite: Do you think your image gives you less credibility because some may see you derisively as a “Fox blonde” and not as a straight-news person?
Kelly: I don’t think so, currently. I think when you first start out and you’re trying to prove yourself to viewers as somebody who can be trusted to report the truth in a fair way, maybe then that’s an obstacle you need to overcome whereas most men don’t have to deal with that. But I think by this point the viewers know who I am and what I can bring to the table. So it may be a factor, but I don’t think it’s the factor or the reason they watch. It’s not what they think of first when they think of me. The people who watch know Fox News and know me, I don’t think it’s the reason they would tune in on election night or every Monday to Friday, 1-3. So I think it’s less of an issue for me now than it was when I was first starting out in the business.
Mediaite: I can’t not ask you your thoughts on possibly one day taking over Glenn Beck’s 5PM timeslot. While The Five is doing surprisingly well, would you have any interest in taking that spot?
Kelly: I am really happy where I am. I have a job right now that allows me to interview major newsmakers, that allows me to participate on huge nights like election night, and allows me to spend the mornings and the evenings with my family. What more could I ask for?
Mediaite: What is your big goal for the future? Is it a Diane Sawyer-type career, do you see yourself being on TV regularly for the next 30 years, or will you do special reports and spend more family time?
Kelly: Maybe yes to all three of those. It’s tough, because my whole life I’ve tried to set goals and I’ve worked very hard to meet those goals. Right now I’ve achieved some big goals, and I’m in a happy place personally and professionally. My plan professionally is to keep working as hard as I possibly can while maintaining a balance of my home life and hope that whatever doors I need to keep open are open when I get there.
(This interview has been edited for length and clarity.)
