Washington, D.C. (Oct. 25, 2018) — The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is monitoring reports that Megyn Kelly’s recent offensive comments about blackface Halloween costumes have led to some changes at NBC.
NABJ President Sarah Glover, who is employed by NBC, said that NABJ would like to see media organizations take bold steps to ensure that diversity and inclusion is practiced on-air and behind the scenes, and that black people and people of color are not affronted.
“Megyn Kelly’s flip comments on blackface were inexcusable. It is imperative that media organizations work to maintain the trust of audiences,” said President Glover. “The media industry has the power to inform, and an awesome responsibility to dispel ignorance and not encourage it.”
Last year, NABJ expressed its disappointment after Kelly was hired as the replacement for Tamron Hall, a successful “Today” show co-host at that time, in part because of Kelly’s history of on-air offensive remarks regarding people of color.
NABJ will continue to monitor developments at NBC and other media companies to assist with opportunities to help with workforce diversity, equity and inclusion.
“I hope that NBC will take the appropriate action in dealing with this very unfortunate situation,” said NABJ Vice President-Broadcast Dorothy Tucker.
