Megyn Kelly has unleashed a furious verbal assault on fellow media figure Bari Weiss, accusing her of cynically exploiting the widow of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk and amplifying criticism of Kelly's own response to wild conspiracy theories surrounding Kirk's death.
The Core of the Controversy
The dispute erupted after Weiss, 41, shared remarks by commentator Ben Shapiro in which he criticised Kelly, 55, and former Fox host Tucker Carlson for not speaking out against conspiracy theories being promoted by figures like Candace Owens following Kirk's death. Kirk was shot at a Utah university event. Shapiro labelled their silence as "cowardly," a sentiment Weiss endorsed by calling his speech a "barnburner" in a social media post.
Kelly responded forcefully at an event in Arizona last Friday. She accused Weiss of "couching herself as Erika's protector, Erika's defender" while having no genuine relationship with Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk. "Erika Kirk barely knows Bari Weiss," Kelly fumed. "Bari doesn’t know anything about Erika. Bari Weiss has never been to a Turning Point event."
Kelly's Scathing Rebuke
Kelly questioned Weiss's commitment to the principles Kirk stood for during his life. "Do you guys remember her here? Standing up for what we believe in when Charlie was alive?" Kelly asked the audience. "I don’t remember her standing up for our principles. I don’t remember her defending Charlie the many times he was called a racist or an antisemite. I really don’t remember that at all."
Kelly also took aim at a CBS town hall moderated by Weiss that featured Erika Kirk after her husband's death. She accused the media executive of trying to steal the spotlight from the network's regular on-air talent. "Bari Weiss tried to play both super important VIP executive and super fabulous star anchor at her new network CBS," Kelly stated, adding it was "no way to win friends at your new organisation."
She further criticised some questions posed to Erika during the interview, which she said forced the widow into "a position of having to defend whether [Donald] Trump used hateful rhetoric." Kelly branded this approach as having "The nerve!"
Contrasting Interviews and a Conclusion
This public feud stands in contrast to Kelly's own interview with Erika Kirk in November 2023. During that appearance on Kelly's show, the 37-year-old widow spoke about forgiving her husband's suspected assassin, Tyler Robinson, 22. "The enemy would love for me to be angry," Erika told Kelly, explaining that ill will would distract her from her family and her husband's legacy. Kelly was notably impressed by Kirk's capacity for forgiveness.
Kelly concluded her tirade by making it clear she would not accept guidance from Weiss or Shapiro on how to interact with or support Erika Kirk. The episode highlights the intense divisions and personal rivalries that can erupt within media circles, especially when intertwined with tragedy and contentious political discourse.
