Megyn Kelly, former host of "The Megyn Kelly Show," has publicly questioned WNBA star Dijonai Carrington's use of the term "white privilege." Kelly's comments, made on her show Wednesday, centered on Carrington's remarks following a hard foul during a WNBA game and her subsequent ejection.
Carrington was removed from a game against the Indiana Fever on Saturday after committing a foul on Sophie Cunningham, which resulted in Cunningham's mouth bleeding. Following the incident, Carrington posted on social media, "WHITE PRIVILEGE @indianafever." This statement drew criticism, including from former NFL linebacker Emmanuel Acho.
Carrington later responded to Acho, stating that her comment was not an assumption about the foul itself but a broader commentary on white privilege. She asserted her understanding of the historical and social weight of the term and stated she would not use it without proper substantiation.
Kelly, however, argued that Carrington's background does not align with a claim of experiencing white privilege. Kelly highlighted that Carrington's father played in the NFL and participated in two Super Bowls, and her mother was a track athlete. Additionally, Kelly pointed out that Carrington attended a private school with significant tuition costs and played for elite college programs at Stanford and Baylor universities.
"I don't know about you, but I didn't go to a fancy private school that cost 20 grand a year, or have both of my parents in the home, since my dad died when I was 15," Kelly stated on her show, contrasting her own upbringing with what she perceived as Carrington's privileged background.
Kelly also commented on Carrington's appearance, specifically her hair, which Kelly described as "whiter than mine, straighter than mine, super long." Kelly suggested that Carrington's blonde hair is "white girl hair" and questioned why Carrington could wear it while she herself could not wear a braid without being accused of racism. Kelly also alluded to Carrington having undergone cosmetic procedures.
Kelly’s remarks come eight years after she was dismissed from NBC following controversial comments defending the use of blackface. At the time, NBC employees reportedly expressed disgust with her remarks.