Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly has taken aim at actor George Clooney after he questioned her credentials as a journalist. The exchange, which unfolded during an interview with actress Patti LuPone for Variety’s Actors on Actors issue, saw Clooney making a pointed remark about Kelly's work in journalism. "I’m not quite sure what she’s done," he said, emphasizing his own experiences in conflict zones, stating, "I’ve at least been to Darfur and Sudan and the Congo and been shot at to try and get stories out. And I’m not quite sure what she’s done to be a journalist."
This jab came after Clooney included Kelly in the closing montage of his Broadway play, Good Night, and Good Luck, where he portrays the legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow. "We only show her words in this play, we don’t tell people what to think. It’s not out of context. We don’t manipulate it. We literally just go, ‘These are your words,'" Clooney explained. LuPone, in a moment of solidarity, added, "Neither is she, by the way," referring to Kelly.
Kelly, however, was far from amused. She dedicated an 11-minute segment on her show, the Megyn Kelly Show, to dissect Clooney's comments, which has garnered over 470,000 views on YouTube. "He’s starring in a play about Edward R. Murrow because Clooney fancies himself a journalist, you see," she remarked, mocking the actor's self-image.
In her critique, Kelly did not hold back. She chastised Clooney for postponing the release of an opinion piece he penned for the New York Times last summer, where he urged President Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential race. "(He) has lots of thoughts about how journalists need to do journalism," Kelly pointed out, adding a sharp critique of Clooney's timing. "Like he does it … stumbling upon the biggest story of the decade — that a sitting president is mentally infirm, and ought to be 25th Amendment-ed right out of office and then burying it, saying absolutely nothing for weeks on end."
Kelly accused Clooney of cowardice for his delayed response to Biden's mental capacity after hosting a fundraiser for the president shortly before his problematic debate performance against Donald Trump last June. "Only after that president humiliates himself on the national stage at a presidential debate and then refuses to step down as the entire Democrat party watches its electoral chances up and down the ticket go swirling down the toilet, (Clooney) finally decides to write an op-ed in The New York Times saying Joe Biden is not up for the job," Kelly asserted. "That’s not journalism, George, it’s cowardice, followed by naked partisanship. You’re not fooling anyone."
Kelly further defended her own journalistic credentials, listing several stories she has covered, including one about a Colorado cake baker who refused to create a wedding cake for a gay couple due to his beliefs, and profiles of Medal of Honor winners. "None of my stories had any interest for George Clooney … You had no interest in stories that actually probed the minds of regular Americans and found out why they did the things you only had an urge to demonize in your elite Hollywood circles," she remarked. "That’s not the kind of fearless journalism you’re talking about … These stories never made it on your radar because you were too busy in your $100 million Lake Como mansion or at one of your five other homes."
In addition to her critiques, Kelly also questioned Clooney’s motivations, wondering if his Hollywood roles are becoming scarce as he ages. "What’s the matter, George? Are the Hollywood roles getting a little hard to come by as you age and get decidedly more smug and self-congratulatory? I’m just asking," she quipped.
The backlash against Clooney continued in the comments section of Kelly’s video, where many fans expressed their disdain for the actor, labeling him "pompous" and "an idiotic propagandist." One viewer commented, "Never liked George Clooney and never understood the hype around him. He comes across as smug and self-righteous." Another added, "Just shut up, George. You and your opinions are nothing special."
In a separate but related note, Sky News senior reporter Caroline Marcus has also weighed in on the Clooneys' relationship, suggesting they seem "particularly blessed." Clooney boasted during an interview that he and his wife Amal have never had a fight, a claim that Marcus found hard to believe. "Excuse me while I have a spew," she remarked, highlighting the skepticism surrounding such a declaration.
The exchange between Kelly and Clooney reflects broader tensions in the media landscape, where celebrity voices increasingly intersect with political discourse. Clooney's self-proclaimed journalistic endeavors juxtaposed with Kelly's traditional reporting raise questions about the nature of journalism today and the responsibilities of those who wield influence in both Hollywood and political arenas.
As this public spat continues to unfold, it serves as a reminder of the complexities involved in the roles of journalists and public figures, and how their words can reverberate across platforms, sparking debates about credibility, responsibility, and the essence of truth in today's society.
