Megyn Kelly to leave Fox News for NBC

By Joe Concha - 01/03/17 12:34 PM EST



Anchor Megyn Kelly has decided to leave Fox News to take a position at NBC, NBC News announced Tuesday.

Kelly will take a “triple role” at NBC, the network said — hosting a daytime news and discussion show, anchoring a Sunday night news show, and being a central part of the network’s special coverage of politics and other big events.Kelly's "The Kelly File" was the second-most-watched show on cable news, behind only Fox's "O'Reilly Factor." Kelly is a 12-year veteran of Fox.

Her contract with the network expires over the summer.

“Megyn is an exceptional journalist and news anchor, who has had an extraordinary career” NBC News president Andy Lack said in a statement. “She’s demonstrated tremendous skill and poise, and we’re lucky to have her.”

“While I will greatly miss my colleagues at Fox, I am delighted to be joining the NBC News family and taking on a new challenge,” Kelly said in a Facebook post.

“I remain deeply grateful to Fox News, to Rupert, Lachlan and James Murdoch, and especially to all of the FNC viewers, who have taught me so much about what really matters. More to come soon.”

The New York Times first reported Kelly’s move.

Kelly, 46, became a magnet for controversy in the presidential campaign after she had a confrontation with Donald Trump during the first GOP primary debate in August 2015.

Trump took exception to a question by Kelly about his past comments about women, criticizing her on stage and later saying in an interview that Kelly had “blood coming out of her wherever” during the debate.

Trump in January skipped a Fox News debate over his continued feud with the network and Kelly. But he sat down with Kelly for a one-on-one interview later in the campaign.

In July, Kelly took part in an internal investigation into claims of sexual harassment by former Fox host Gretchen Carlson against former Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes.

Kelly would later reveal in her memoir, "Settle for More," that Ailes had made unwanted advances against her on several occasions.

Kelly was paid a reported $15 million per year by Fox News in 2016, making her the second-highest-paid host on the network behind Bill O'Reilly.

- Updated at 1:27 p.m.

http://thehill.com/homenews/news/312...for-nbc-report