Megyn Kelly is ready to play hardball with NBC as the broadcast network scrambles to extract itself from a high-stakes hire that hasn’t worked out.
Variety reports that Kelly “has beefed up her team by hiring a top Hollywood litigator amidst her blackface controversy, signaling that the anchor is ready to put up an aggressive fight as she sorts out her likely exit plan with NBC.”
The report adds: “Kelly is now represented by Bryan Freedman, one of the founding partners of the Los Angeles-based law firm Freedman & Taitelman, Variety has confirmed. Kelly’s new attorney is set to meet with NBC executives as early as Friday to ‘determine next steps,’ insiders say.”
Variety also notes: “The appointment of Kelly’s attorney comes as the anchor has parted ways with her agency, CAA. A person familiar with the matter tells Variety that Kelly departed CAA because the agency also represents NBC News President Noah Oppenheim.”
NBC, meanwhile, confirmed that it has shut down “Megyn Kelly Today” in the wake of this week’s blackface controversy. NBC News quotes a spokesperson for the division saying: “‘Megyn Kelly Today’ is not returning. Next week, the 9 a.m. hour will be hosted by other ‘Today’ co-anchors.”
Kelly’s morning hour has struggled to gain traction with viewers since NBC hired Kelly away from Fox News.
#LOCKHERUP
What has she done, lock Hillary up.
Kelly’s comments are a classic example of the violation of the “just cause” clause of talent contracts. Her actions brought disrepute and disrespect to NBC News and the TODAY show. They have every right to fire her with NO compensation. We’ll see if Steve Burke and his NBC minions have the balls to dump this problem child without chickening out and buying her off.