In a blistering exchange that has captivated media circles, conservative commentator Megyn Kelly unleashed a torrent of insults against NewsNation host Chris Cuomo, branding him a "douchebag" and drawing parallels to a notorious fictional character. The conflict ignited after Cuomo implied on his show that Kelly was acting as a "sloppy influencer" in her coverage of the mysterious disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of "Today" co-anchor Savannah Guthrie.
Defending Her Reporting on Guthrie Disappearance
During a recent episode of "The Megyn Kelly Show," Kelly fired back vehemently while defending her journalistic approach to the Guthrie case. She played a clip where Cuomo lamented about "sloppy influencers and would-be sleuths" exploiting the story for "clicks and ragebait." Kelly asserted that in such investigations, family members should not be ruled out prematurely, emphasizing, "No one's been ruled out. Absolutely not. Not the family. No one. Everyone remains a suspect until we have somebody in handcuffs."
Personal Attacks and Accusations
Kelly escalated the feud by likening Cuomo to Fredo Corleone from "The Godfather," mockingly referring to him as "Fredo No-Rato." She taunted him over the low viewership of his NewsNation program, claiming it has "less viewers than I have fingers," and accused him of jealousy toward her successful podcast, which she noted is consistently among the top conservative podcasts nationally.
She further condemned Cuomo for allegedly protecting his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, during past news coverage, linking it to his own professional downfall. "You didn't report honestly on his many, many problems during COVID, or his many, many problems in grabbing women," Kelly charged, alluding to Andrew Cuomo's resignation amid sexual misconduct allegations in 2021.
Historical Context of the Rivalry
This public spat is not an isolated incident; Kelly and Cuomo have a history of mocking each other publicly. Cuomo was fired by CNN in December 2021 after accusations that he used his journalistic role to aid his brother's defense against sexual misconduct claims, alongside denying allegations of sexual harassment from a colleague.
Escalation on Social Media
The feud spilled onto social media platforms, with Cuomo responding to Kelly's segment by posting on X, "Get over yourself, little hater. Odd language choice for a mom with young kids. Classy." Kelly retorted in a separate post, writing, "Fredo, I know your thing is harassing women (runs in the family!) but your focus on me is getting creepy."
Kelly also revealed that Cuomo once contacted her lawyer, "begged the lawyer to get me to stop mentioning him," because it "hurt his little feelings." This added a layer of personal grievance to the professional dispute, highlighting the intense animosity between the two media personalities.
Broader Implications for Media Ethics
This confrontation raises questions about journalistic ethics and the role of influencers in high-profile cases. While Kelly and other reporters have suggested Tommaso Cioni, Savannah Guthrie's brother-in-law, as a potential suspect, official sources like the Pima County Sheriff's Department have stated that no suspects have been identified in the ongoing investigation, as reported by TMZ on February 5.
Cuomo had previously criticized Kelly's reporting in a February 17 X post, calling it "shameful" for playing the story for "click bait" and hinting at fake videos and family involvement. The back-and-forth underscores the volatile nature of media rivalries and the blurred lines between news reporting and sensationalism in today's digital age.
