Megyn Kelly Issues On-Air Apology For Blackface Defense: 'I Was Wrong'

NBC host Megyn Kelly issued an on-air apology Wednesday after she defended white people who wear blackface while discussing Halloween costumes on her show a day earlier.

I want to begin with two words: Im sorry, Kelly said at the start of Megyn Kelly Today on Wednesday. You may have heard yesterday that we had a discussion here about political correctness and Halloween costumes. And that conversation turned to whether it is ever OK for a person of one race to dress up as another.

She continued: I defended the idea, saying as long as it was respectful and part of the Halloween costume, it seemed OK. Well, I was wrong and I am sorry.

\"I want to begin with two words, I'm sorry..The country feels so divided and I have no wish to add to that pain and offense. I believe this is a time for more understanding, more love, more sensitivity and honor..Thank you for listening and for helping me listen too.\" Megyn Kelly pic.twitter.com/6hHrvZLNvK

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"I want to begin with two words, I'm sorry..The country feels so divided and I have no wish to add to that pain and offense. I believe this is a time for more understanding, more love, more sensitivity and honor..Thank you for listening and for helping me listen too." Megyn Kelly pic.twitter.com/6hHrvZLNvK
Megyn Kelly TODAY (@MegynTODAY) October 24, 2018

The former Fox News host drew heated backlash after questioning what is racist about white people darkening their skin while dressing up for Halloween or the reverse.

When I was a kid, that was OK, so long as you were dressing up as a character, Kelly, who was born in 1970, told an all-white panel during her show Tuesday. I cant keep up with the number of people were offending just by being normal people.

Later Tuesday, Kelly apologized for her comments in an internal email to NBC staff, stating that she had rethought her views after listening carefully to her friends and teammates.

I realize now that such behavior is indeed wrong, and I am sorry, Kelly wrote in the email. The history of blackface in our culture is abhorrent; the wounds too deep.

On Wednesday, Kelly was joined on her show by Roland Martin and Amy Holmes, a co-host of PBSs In Principle, for a segment on racial sensitivity.

The Halloween costume controversy to me, the line is actually not that difficult to draw, Holmes said. Theres a difference between dressing up as, say, a character with clothing, those types of things, versus racial mockery.

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\"There are lines, and there's history, and there's pain. And when we acknowledge that, then we can learn and grow from it.\" @rolandsmartin pic.twitter.com/dQt3VhZsgB

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"There are lines, and there's history, and there's pain. And when we acknowledge that, then we can learn and grow from it." @rolandsmartin pic.twitter.com/dQt3VhZsgB
Megyn Kelly TODAY (@MegynTODAY) October 24, 2018

NBC plans to broadcast a previously-taped episode of Megyn Kelly Today on Thursday morning, Mediaite reported. Kellys talent agency also reportedly dropped her as a client .

This story has been updated with more quotes from Kelly, details of her apologies and discussions in recent days and info about her future.