Megyn Kelly is not one to hold back, and she certainly didn’t this time.
The well-known conservative commentator fired back at tech journalist Kara Swisher after Swisher made some pointed remarks about her, calling Kelly a “rage machine” and accusing her of constantly attacking women.
A War of Words
Swisher made her comments during an episode of her podcast, Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway, where she painted Kelly as someone who thrives on stirring controversy.
“She has a little act that she takes on the road and screams at women—a lot of women,” Swisher said, adding, “What is wrong with her?”
Kelly didn’t let that slide. On her own show Monday, she shot back, saying, “What’s wrong is that I see you for who you are.
I see how nasty you are to everybody.” She didn’t stop there, calling Swisher “a very tough, ballsy, open lesbian woman” and claiming that the journalist has a reputation for being cutthroat in her dealings.
A Personal Loss and an Insensitive Response
Things got even more personal when Kelly recounted an interaction she had with Swisher following a family tragedy.
Back in 2022, Kelly was set to appear on Swisher’s podcast to discuss the COVID pandemic and vaccines.
However, just days before the interview, Kelly’s sister, Suzanne Crossley, suffered a sudden heart attack and passed away at the age of 58.
Kelly, understandably devastated, had her assistant inform Swisher’s team that she wouldn’t be able to make it due to personal reasons.
Swisher’s response? Instead of expressing concern or understanding, she reportedly questioned Kelly’s motives.
According to Kelly, Swisher herself responded, writing, “Oh, that sounds like a good idea, and I certainly hope she’ll stay off X in the meantime.”
Kelly took issue with the comment, interpreting it as Swisher not believing the seriousness of her situation.
“She thought I was just trying to avoid her because I was saying controversial things on X,” Kelly said. “Like I wasn’t strong enough to face her. As if she even knows me.”
Swisher’s Attempt to Backtrack
When Kelly’s assistant eventually clarified that her sister had died, Swisher reportedly tried to brush off her previous remark as a joke.
Kelly wasn’t buying it. “She writes back, ‘Oh, well, I was only joking. Sorry.’”
That didn’t sit well with Kelly, who didn’t hold back in her response: “I’m sorry, but she’s a bad person! That kind of thing makes you a bad person.”
A Painful Reminder
The memory of her sister’s passing remains raw for Kelly. When she first announced the news to her audience, she broke down, struggling to get the words out.
“I have to tell you something really sad that happened in my family over the weekend,” she said, her voice cracking.
“My sister died. She was 58. Her name was Suzanne Crossley.”
Kelly shared how she immediately rushed to New York to be with her mother, brother, and nephew during those painful final moments.
“It was sudden and unexpected. She hadn’t been in great health for the past few years, but it was still a shock.”
Finding Strength in Work
Despite her grief, Kelly chose to continue her show, explaining that work provides her with a much-needed distraction.
“I asked myself, should I come back for Monday’s show or not? And for me, it’s better to be here,” she said.
“It’s cathartic to work. It gave me a few hours to take my mind off of it.”
She also used the moment as a reminder to her audience: “Life is short and unpredictable.
Hug the people you love. We can’t all be perfect about it, but we can make small efforts—send that text, return that call.”
With emotions still running high and this public feud heating up, it’s clear that neither Kelly nor Swisher is ready to back down anytime soon.