Megyn Kelly isn’t holding back when it comes to some of Hollywood’s most famous names—especially Ellen DeGeneres. In a blunt new interview, the conservative commentator said she was never surprised by the bullying allegations that ultimately tarnished DeGeneres’ daytime talk show empire.
Speaking to the Daily Mail in late December, Kelly claimed that stories about DeGeneres’ off-camera behavior had circulated quietly in the industry for years. According to Kelly, someone close to her who worked on The Ellen DeGeneres Show described a work environment so strict that staff were allegedly discouraged from even making eye contact with the host.
Kelly said she was told employees were expected to look down or avert their eyes if DeGeneres passed them in the hallway, likening the atmosphere to something out of medieval times. She described the source as reliable and emphasized that the person held a senior role on the show, making the claims especially troubling.
Based on what she says she heard long before the scandal became public, Kelly said the accusations that later surfaced did not shock her. She suggested that DeGeneres’ carefully crafted public image didn’t align with how she was perceived behind the scenes, bluntly stating that she never viewed the comedian as a particularly kind person.
DeGeneres wasn’t the only celebrity Kelly criticized. She also labeled Jane Fonda the “meanest” celebrity she’s ever encountered, referencing a tense interview from 2017. Kelly said Fonda bristled when asked about plastic surgery, despite previously discussing the topic openly, and appeared annoyed that Kelly avoided questions about intimate scenes in one of Fonda’s films.
Kelly explained that she steered clear of the topic out of respect for Robert Redford, whose team had allegedly indicated he was uncomfortable discussing those scenes. According to Kelly, Fonda seemed eager to talk about them and was irritated when the conversation didn’t go in that direction.
The list didn’t stop there. Kelly also recalled an unpleasant interaction with Bruce Willis during a 2006 Fox News appearance, describing the actor as disengaged and irritable. While acknowledging Willis’ current health struggles, Kelly said her experience with him at the time was far from positive.
She additionally took a swipe at longtime TV personality Al Roker, suggesting he presents a very different demeanor in private than he does on television. Kelly used a pop-culture analogy to imply that an encounter with Roker would be far less friendly than viewers might expect.
Kelly’s comments have reignited conversations about celebrity behavior behind the scenes, particularly how power and image can shape workplace culture in Hollywood.
