Megyn Kelly exposes the glaring double standard that let Jimmy Kimmel keep his show after performing in blackface while she was fired for simply questioning Halloween costume standards.

Story Highlights

• Kelly fired by NBC in 2018 for questioning blackface Halloween costume sensitivity
• Kimmel performed blackface multiple times in early 2000s but retained ABC show after apology
• Kelly criticizes media’s selective enforcement of cancel culture based on political alignment
• ABC affiliates reconsidering airing Kimmel’s show amid ongoing controversies

The Tale of Two Cancellations

The entertainment industry’s inconsistent accountability standards came under fire when Megyn Kelly highlighted the stark contrast between her 2018 firing and Jimmy Kimmel’s career survival. Kelly lost her NBC morning show after questioning why blackface Halloween costumes are considered offensive, while Kimmel continued hosting despite performing actual blackface sketches on The Man Show and Comedy Central programs. This disparity illustrates how cancel culture operates with different rules for different political tribes, undermining claims of equal justice.

Kelly’s October 2018 comments occurred during a panel discussion about Halloween costumes, where she questioned the evolution of blackface sensitivity. Within three days of her on-air apology, NBC terminated her contract and canceled Megyn Kelly Today. The network’s swift action contrasted sharply with the entertainment industry’s later response to Kimmel’s blackface performances, which resurfaced in 2020 during heightened racial tensions but resulted only in a brief hiatus and generic apology.

Read "Megyn Kelly reminds America: Jimmy Kimmel wore blackface — yet she was the one canceled" on SmartNews: https://t.co/m28rlU6IlU #SmartNews

— Gene Melius (@gene_melius2) September 30, 2025

Political Protection in Hollywood

The divergent outcomes expose how political alignment influences career consequences in mainstream media. Kimmel, a vocal Trump critic and liberal commentator, received institutional protection from ABC and sympathetic media coverage during his blackface controversy. Meanwhile, Kelly, despite her apology and attempt at clarification, faced immediate termination without the benefit of context or forgiveness that Hollywood typically extends to ideologically aligned figures.

This selective enforcement undermines the credibility of cancel culture as a mechanism for genuine accountability. When consequences depend more on political affiliation than the severity of actions, it becomes a weapon of partisan warfare rather than moral progress. Kelly’s case demonstrates how conservative voices face harsher standards, creating a chilling effect on legitimate discourse about sensitive topics.

Media’s Hypocrisy Exposed

Kelly’s renewed criticism in September 2025 coincided with Kimmel’s return from suspension following controversial comments about Charlie Kirk. Her social media posts sarcastically noted Kimmel’s failure to support her during her cancellation, highlighting the absence of solidarity from someone who later faced similar scrutiny. This exposes the hollow nature of Hollywood’s stated commitment to fairness and due process when applied selectively.

The ongoing controversy reflects broader concerns about institutional bias in entertainment and news media. ABC affiliates reportedly reconsidering Kimmel’s show signals potential economic consequences for networks that ignore audience concerns about double standards. Kelly’s independent success since leaving NBC demonstrates alternative pathways for conservative voices shut out by mainstream gatekeepers, challenging the traditional media monopoly on public discourse.

Watch the report: Megyn Kelly GOES OFF on Jimmy Kimmel’s PATHETIC Charlie Kirk “apology”

Sources:

Bitter Megyn Kelly Rips Jimmy Kimmel and His Short-Lived Cancellation – The Daily Beast
Social Media reacts to Jimmy Kimmel’s lack of apology – KATV