Search
Close this search box.

Megyn Kelly Slams ‘Blackface Double Standard’ After Robert Downey Jr. Defends ‘Tropic Thunder’ Role

megyn kelly, robert downey jr.

*Former NBC and Fox News host Megyn Kelly took to Twitter Wednesday to criticize NBCUniversal’s movie studio Universal Pictures, over actor Robert Downey Jr. appearing in blackface in the 2008 satirical comedy “Tropic Thunder.”

We previously reported… Downey Jr. stopped by The Joe Rogan Experience podcast and shared how he really feels about rocking blackface in the 2008 Ben Stiller-directed comedy “Tropic Thunder.”

In the film, Downey Jr. plays an Australian-born (method) actor who undergoes “pigmentation alteration” to portray a Black character. During his chat with Rogan, the actor recalled his mother being horrified over the role, while “90 percent” of his Black friends thought his performance was “great.” 

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Judge Rules Two Accusers Can Testify at Cuba Gooding Jr.’s Groping Trial

Tweeting a link to the interview, Kelly wrote: “R. Downey Jr: wears blackface for Universal w/o regret bc it ’sparked a necessary convo.’ Univer.: yay Robert! Me: Never worn blackface but had one of those ‘necessary convos’ re how standard seems to have changed over time.NBC-Univer: F.U.! Cancelled!”

Kelly thought she was calling out her former employer NBCUniversal, as she was fired by NBC in 2018 over a controversial segment about blackface on her daytime program, “Megyn Kelly Today.”

However, as noted by Newsweek, “Tropic Thunder” was not produced or distributed by Universal Pictures, but rival studio Paramount Pictures, which is owned by ViacomCBS, formerly known as Viacom.

In October of 2018, Kelly, who once insisted that Jesus was white, said blackface is not racist as a Halloween costume. The backlash over her comments was fierce; with many white folks defending her, but her already bombing in the ratings talk show was canceled. 

Meanwhile, as  you can imagine, social media came hard and fast for Kelly’s analysis of Downey’s role.

Actress Yvette Nicole Brown took aim at Kelly over the tweet.

She wrote, “This privileged twit still doesn’t get it. She will NEVER get it. Can someone tell @megynkelly that her ‘confusion’ as to why blackface is problematic expressed on the @NBC show she did not earn nor deserved was not a #NecessaryConversation?”

Another social media user added, “Megyn, lemme break it down to you girl RDJ wearing blackface was a comedic message. Look deeper YOU repeatedly offended blacks, women, hell, the entire country with your unpalatable bias while arrogant AF Get over yourself because America has, ‘Ailes twirler.'”

Downey received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for his role in “Tropic Thunder.”

WATCH:

YouTube video

 

We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!

Influencers Beatriz Tavares da Silva Faria (left) and Aline Tamara Moreira de Amorim (right)
DeMar DeRozan - screenshot
Beyonce as Prince - via Instagram
Joel Embiid (Matt Slocum-AP via CNN Newsource)
Breakfast from restaurant - Depositphotos
Keke Palmer Talks Sexuality and Gender
Harris & Trump face-to-face
Claudette Robinson - via Instagram
Savannah and LeBron James
Shirley Caesar - via Instagram
The Daise Family - Gullah Gullah Island
Read More
Sean Diddy Combs (Reuters-Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
Read More
Denzel and Diddy - GettyImages
Read More
Sidney Starr
Read More
Michael Harry-O Harris - IG screenshot
Read More
Diddy and Wendy - screenshot
Read More
Jamie Foxx - Getty
Read More
Jaguar Wright - via Instagram
Read More
Common visits “The Jennifer Hudson Show''
Read More
Snoop Dogg - via Depositphotos
Read More

POPULAR

Influencers Beatriz Tavares da Silva Faria (left) and Aline Tamara Moreira de Amorim (right)
Social Media Influencers Drown from Refusal to Wear Tan-Ruining Life Jackets | VIDEO
DeMar DeRozan - screenshot
They're Not Friends Anymore! Drake Makes His Feelings About DeMar DeRozan Known During Raptors Game | WATCH
Beyonce as Prince - via Instagram
Purple Nasty! Another Look At Beyoncé's Halloween Outfits: A Love Letter to Prince and Apollonia & Nod to Batty Davis | LOOK!
Joel Embiid (Matt Slocum-AP via CNN Newsource)
NBA Investigating Reports That Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid Shoved Columnist | WATCH
Breakfast from restaurant - Depositphotos
You Hungry? Check Out America's Top 20 Breakfast Restaurant Chains - Find Out Who's #1 | PICs
Keke Palmer Talks Sexuality and Gender
Keke Palmer Explains ‘Inappropriate’ Relationship with Older Man During ‘True Jackson, VP’ Days | WATCH
Harris & Trump face-to-face
Harris Has Done it! Trump No Longer Leads in State He Won Twice - According to New Iowa Poll | WATCH
Claudette Robinson - via Instagram
The Pulse of Entertainment: Claudette Robinson, First Lady of Motown, Honoree at 'Motown 65' | VIDEO
Savannah and LeBron James
Savannah James, LeBron’s Wife, Admits Feeling ‘Depleted' At Times During Marriage | WATCH
1 2 3 8,379