Megyn Kelly, the SiriusXM radio host and former NBC News anchor, has delivered a stinging critique of her previous employer's reporting on transgender issues. On her Tuesday show, Kelly not only scrutinized NBC News for a perceived failure to adapt its journalistic practices but also expressed regret for her own involvement in the network's approach, which she now deems problematic. Her tenure at NBC from 2017 to 2018 coincided with the burgeoning visibility of transgender topics in the media.
"The news media is part of the problem. I worked at NBC. I was part of the problem while there," Kelly remarked on "The Megyn Kelly Show." She reflected on the journalistic landscape of her NBC days, a time when many newsrooms were first tackling transgender stories and grappling with the complexities involved. Kelly suggested that there was sufficient information available by 2018 to justify a more nuanced approach to the coverage of these issues.
Kelly's critique extended to the present day, where she accused NBC of overlooking emerging data and personal accounts related to medical interventions for transgender youth. "NBC has learned nothing," she stated emphatically. Her concerns centered around the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, pointing to the significant impact on fertility and sexual function in young people.
Her reflections were not just about NBC but touched on what she sees as an industry-wide issue. Kelly praised California attorney Julie Hamill's recent interaction with CNN's Brianna Keilar as an example of robust journalism. Hamill challenged Keilar's pronoun usage when discussing biological male athlete AB Hernandez, who competes in women's sports. This exchange, according to Kelly, exemplified the type of journalistic pushback she now advocates for.
Kelly's criticism of NBC included specific references to language use. "They refuse to use biologically based language. Pronouns and words like 'daughter' should not have been in that NBC News piece," she said, insisting that affirming language is seen as the only acceptable approach by her former network, a stance she finds objectionable.
In a moving moment on her show, Kelly played audio of the CNN exchange and expressed deep regret for her past reporting. "I realized now I was part of this problem. If you aren't actively fighting against this you are part of the problem," she confessed. This candid admission underscores a significant shift in her understanding and perspective on transgender ideology and its coverage in the media.
Kelly's commentary is part of a larger conversation about how media outlets cover transgender issues, particularly as they intersect with other societal areas such as sports, youth medical treatments, and the language used in reporting. Her call for a reevaluation of journalistic practices reflects ongoing debates around transparency, responsibility, and the evolution of language in journalism.
