Megyn Kelly, known for her directness, recently revealed a list of celebrities she’s found challenging to work with, offering a rare glimpse behind the polished facades of Hollywood. The broadcaster’s reflections, shared in a candid interview, paint a picture of uncomfortable encounters and lingering impressions formed over years in the media spotlight.
Kelly’s journey to this vantage point began far from red carpets. Initially a practicing attorney, she transitioned to broadcast journalism, becoming a prominent figure at Fox News before moving to NBC and ultimately launching her own podcast. This diverse career has placed her face-to-face with presidents, musicians, and actors, providing a unique perspective on the personalities behind the fame.
When asked to name the celebrity she least enjoyed interviewing, Kelly immediately cited Jane Fonda. The 88-year-old actress reportedly took offense during a 2017 conversation when the topic shifted to cosmetic surgery, creating a palpable tension that Kelly remembers vividly. It wasn’t necessarily malice, she explained, but an awkwardness that permeated the entire exchange.
The plastic surgery question, Kelly clarified, wasn’t a spontaneous decision. Producers had cautioned her against discussing intimate scenes from Fonda’s film with Robert Redford present, due to his discomfort. Attempting to navigate this constraint inadvertently led to the uncomfortable moment, solidifying a negative impression that has endured.
Another name surfaced was Bruce Willis, though Kelly prefaced her comments with acknowledgement of his current battle with frontotemporal dementia. Despite this, she described their 2006 interview as deeply frustrating, characterizing Willis as “ungiving” and clearly disinterested in the conversation.
Kelly recalled Willis’s apparent unhappiness, questioning why he agreed to the interview if he wasn’t prepared to engage. This lack of reciprocity, she felt, was more problematic than any ideological disagreement, leaving a lasting mark on her memory of the encounter.
Her description of former colleague Al Roker was more veiled. Kelly offered a cultural reference – comparing an encounter between her mother and Roker to a scene from *Curb Your Enthusiasm* – hinting at a significant personal friction without delving into specifics. The implication was clear: their relationship is far from amicable.
However, Kelly’s most pointed criticism was reserved for Ellen DeGeneres. Her assessment wasn’t based on personal experience, but on accounts from a family member who worked as a producer on *The Ellen DeGeneres Show*. Staff were reportedly instructed to avoid even accidental eye contact with the host.
According to the account, employees were told to deliberately look down whenever encountering DeGeneres in a hallway, effectively behaving as if in the presence of royalty. Kelly described this behavior as unprecedented, even before the 2020 allegations of a toxic work environment surfaced.
Kelly stated that this story predated the widely publicized bullying scandal, and she wasn’t surprised when the allegations came to light. She firmly believes DeGeneres exhibits deeply problematic behavior, characterizing her as “a bad person.”
It wasn’t all negativity, however. Kelly also highlighted celebrities she genuinely enjoyed interacting with. She praised Russell Brand as “warm” and Kathie Lee Gifford as “nice,” and expressed admiration for Jada Pinkett Smith, describing her as “sweet, sincere and genuine.”
