TV host Megyn Kelly won’t be returning to her NBC show after comments she made about blackface Halloween costumes prompted outcry online.
NBC announced in a tweet Friday that the Megyn Kelly Today show, which airs at 9 a.m., will be covered by other hosts.
“Megyn Kelly Today is not returning,” a statement from a spokesperson read. “Next week, the 9 a.m. hour will be hosted by other TODAY co-anchors.”
During a segment about Halloween costumes on Tuesday, Kelly defended the use of blackface while discussing a character on The Real Housewives of New York City who darkened her face for a Diana Ross costume.
READ MORE: Megyn Kelly absent from her NBC morning show following blackface comments
She said it was acceptable when she was a kid when portraying a character.
“But what is racist?” she asked during a panel on the show.
WATCH: Megyn Kelly is leaving show, talks ongoing on future with network
“Because you do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface on Halloween, or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween. Back when I was a kid that was OK, as long as you were dressing up as, like, a character.”
An NBC News article Friday, citing unnamed sources, explained that Kelly is still in talks with the channel about her future.
Her comments prompted criticism online, even among her fellow NBC colleagues.
WATCH: Al Roker reacts to Megyn Kelly’s comments about blackface
Both NBC’s Nightly News and the Today show did stories on her comment. Al Roker said “she owes a big apology to people of colour across the country.”
— With files from The Associated Press
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