“Now his behavior makes more sense,” “Today” host says of book event last fall with the disgraced newsman
“We begin this morning with accusations of sexual harassment … now reaching one of TV’s best known broadcasters, @CharlieRose .” @MegynKelly pic.twitter.com/6PNPkKP8y6 — Megyn Kelly TODAY (@MegynTODAY) November 21,2017
On Tuesday’s “Today,” Megyn Kelly delivered a personal monologue about Charlie Rose — whose career implode Monday after a Washington Post report that eight women accused him of sexual misconduct between the 1990s and 2011.
Kelly said Rose was a friend and that it was a hard story for her to report, then revealed a personal moment she had with Rose that left her angry and that she said was a harbinger of things to come.
“Last November, my book came out. I asked Charlie to emcee my very first book event,” she said. “It was supposed to be a celebratory event discussing the full scope of the book which is about my life and my career and the lessons learned.”
Also Read: Megyn Kelly’s Ratings Jump Double Digits With Hollywood, Media Sexual Harassment Coverage
“The exchange felt to me like a cross-examine, focused on one issue, the book’s sexual harassment allegations against [former Fox News head] Roger Ailes, allegations Ailes denied but which I know are true because I lived it. I felt defensive in the exchange with Charlie and wound up angry with how he handled my book event. Obviously now his behavior makes more sense.”
Kelly then said she kept silent and ultimately ended up just sending Rose a bottle of wine — leading her audience to break out into awkward applause.
“No no, I’m making a different point,” she said. “The reason I sent him the wine and the thank you note was because I believed it was better to be nice, I believed it was better not to express my anger or upset.”
Also Read: Megyn Kelly on Harassment Claims: ‘If You Take a Shot at the King You Better Kill Him’ (Video)
Kelly then said that was the wrong approach and that “sharp elbows” and “holding the powerful to account” was “the only way forward” for women in the future.
It was a powerful moment for a show that has often struggled to connect with viewers since Kelly’s transition from Fox News.
The segment was the latest in a cascade of disastrous news for Rose, who was promptly dropped from his perch at “CBS This Morning” on Monday. In addition to that, PBS and Bloomberg told TheWrap that they would cease distribution of his eponymous program “The Charlie Rose Show.”
Rose apologized for his conduct in a statement on Twitter.
Watch above.
11 Women Who Have Left Fox News Shows, From Megyn Kelly to Laurie Dhue (Photos)
Fox News has enhanced the careers of numerous women who have served as hosts. All were hired by Roger Ailes, the former network boss who exited in August 2016 amid a sexual harassment scandal.
Greta Van Susteren — who had been one of Ailes’ most stalwart defenders — left in early September 2016 after saying that Fox had “not felt like a home” for years.
Laurie Dhue was a familiar presence on Fox in the early 2000s but left the network in 2008. She has reportedly been shopping a tell-all book this year.
Outspoken host Elisabeth Hasselbeck left “The View” to join “Fox & Friends” in 2013, which she exited at the end of 2015.
Andrea Tantaros, former co-host of “The Five,” filed a lawsuit saying that Fox News operated like a “sex-fueled, Playboy-Mansion-like cult.”
Alisyn Camerota hosted a number of Fox News programs during a 16-year run that ended in 2014. She now hosts “New Day” on CNN.
Rudi Bakhtiar jumped from CNN to Fox News in 2006. She claimed she was sexually harassed by correspondent Brian Wilson and later spoke out against Fox News’ culture after the Ailes scandal broke. She now works at Reuters.
Kiran Chetry was a Fox News host from 2001 to 2007. She was reportedly also an aspirant for a role on “Fox & Friends,” the network’s morning show.
Libertarian commentator Jedediah Bila appeared on Fox’s “Outnumbered” and later turned up on ABC’s “The View.”
Her lawsuit started it all: Former Fox host Gretchen Carlson claims Ailes repeatedly sexually harassed her. Her suit was later settled for a reported $20 million.
Megyn Kelly ended her 12-year run with Fox News in early 2017 in exchange for a weekday show at NBC. She turned down a four-year, $100 million offer to stay with Fox News saying that one of the reasons for her departure was to spend more time with her kids. Kelly said she was among those at Fox News sexually harassed by Ailes.
“Happening Now” anchor Jenna Lee announced that she was leaving the Fox News after working there for 10 years. Lee said she still loves being a journalist and that she has “some really big ideas on how to better serve you in that particular arena” without Fox News. Previous Slide Next Slide
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The Roger Ailes and Bill O’Reilly scandals have cast even some old departures in a new light
Fox News has enhanced the careers of numerous women who have served as hosts. All were hired by Roger Ailes, the former network boss who exited in August 2016 amid a sexual harassment scandal.
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