Megyn Kelly slams Kaepernick for dragging racism into Soleimani killing, gets schooled by Ava DuVernay
Megyn Kelly got into an online war with Colin Kaepernick and others over institutional racism and America's foreign policy given POTUS Donald Trump's recent military move which resulted in the assassination of Iranian general General Qassem Soleimani. The general's death has led to increased fears of a counter-attack from Iran.
The military move has been criticized by Trump's political opponents and critics.
32-year-old Kaepernick had tweeted on Saturday, January 4, morning to criticize Trump's move. Kaepernick had argued that racism was the factor behind Trump's decision to assassinate Soleimani. Kaepernick had taken to Twitter on Saturday to share, "There is nothing new about American terrorist attacks against Black and Brown people for the expansion of American imperialism."
"America has always sanctioned and besieged Black and Brown bodies both at home and abroad. America militarism is the weapon wielded by American imperialism, to enforce it's policing and plundering of the nonwhite world," he had added.
In response to this, the former talk show host and news anchor had written, "Because everything is racist. Everything. Even fighting back against terrorists who kill Americans. Nike, feeling proud?" as she took a dig to the successful shoe company.
Not willing to take her comments lightly, Oscar-nominated director Ava DuVernay also jumped into the conversation and responded saying, "Shame on you, Megyn."
However, Kelly was having none of it and slammed DuVernay. “No, I will not be shamed over calling out bullshit claims of racism – which undermine the legitimate claims," she tweeted. "Killing a terrorist is not about skin color; it’s about protecting our country from a guy who murdered hundreds of Americans, period."
The argument went back and forth and resulted in DuVernay slamming Kelly saying that she needed to educate herself before talking about racism claims. "You sound like what you are. Ignorant. Attention seeking. And desperate. That will be all," DuVernay concluded her post.
In the past, Kelly has not had the best track record of recognizing what counts as racism. In 2018, she was fired from the 'Today Show' after she defended blackface and asked a guest on her show, "But what is racist? You truly do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface at Halloween or a black person who puts on white face."