Former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly has launched a sharp critique against Tony Dokoupil, the new face of the CBS Evening News, following an emotional segment that has sparked debate about on-air professionalism.
A Scathing Review on Her Podcast
During the Wednesday episode of her podcast, Kelly, alongside commentator Mark Halperin, took aim at Dokoupil's challenging first week in the prestigious anchor chair. The discussion zeroed in on a recently released clip where Dokoupil became visibly tearful while explaining why Miami is his "favorite place in the world."
Kelly stated she "literally could not believe my eyes" upon viewing the pre-taped segment. She invoked a longstanding standard for evening news anchors, declaring, "There’s no crying in ‘Evening News.’" Kelly conceded one historical exception, referencing Walter Cronkite's composed reaction while reporting the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.
The Emotional Segment Under Fire
In the controversial clip, Dokoupil struggles with his emotions as he recounts his family's connection to Florida. He revealed his father was a drug dealer, which forced the family to leave Miami, leaving him feeling robbed of a full childhood experience there. "It makes me emotional," Dokoupil said, repeatedly wiping tears and choking up during the explanation.
Kelly expressed astonishment at the story's premise, expecting a far more tragic conclusion to justify the level of emotion displayed. "I thought for sure that story was going to end in ‘And they were all killed in a house fire,'" she remarked. She criticized the "sobbing, the repeated voice quivering, the inability to recover."
Questions About Editorial Judgment
Mark Halperin focused his comments on the editorial decision to broadcast the segment. "I don't begrudge anyone crying over their family. I cry when I talk about my family sometimes," Halperin said. However, he emphasized, "But I wouldn’t put it out." This highlights a central question in the controversy: whether the deeply personal moment was appropriate for a national evening newscast or represented a shift toward more emotive storytelling.
The incident marks a rocky start for Dokoupil in his new role and has ignited a conversation about the evolving tone and boundaries of network news broadcasting. Critics like Kelly see it as a breach of traditional journalistic restraint, while others may view it as a moment of human vulnerability.
