Megyn Kelly Faces Celebrity Backlash Over Remarks on Christina Applegate's Health

Megyn Kelly has drawn criticism from a number of celebrities and commentators for her remarks regarding actress Christina Applegate's ongoing health struggles and recent misdiagnosis. Kelly, host of The Megyn Kelly Show, accused Applegate of "leading her fans on a wild goose chase" and suggested the actress sought to be "the face of MS."

Applegate, who announced her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in the summer of 2021, revealed on her "Messy" podcast that her doctor had informed her she does not have MS, despite experiencing debilitating symptoms for over five years. "You don’t get misdiagnosed and then all of a sudden I’m better. I haven’t gotten better," Applegate stated, adding that her condition has worsened and she is "back at square one" in understanding her health.

Kelly's commentary, which suggested Applegate was crying because she would "no longer get to be the face of this disease," ignited outrage online. Janice Dean, a Fox News contributor who has MS, called Kelly a "mean girl" on X, formerly Twitter. Dean, who has lived with MS for over 20 years, noted the difficulty in obtaining a diagnosis and expressed gratitude for Applegate becoming a voice for many.

Conservative commentator Eric Bolling defended Kelly, recalling her past support for Dean and criticizing Dean's public remarks as "disgraceful."

Actress Melissa Gilbert also took to social media to criticize Kelly. Gilbert urged Kelly to imagine the emotional toll of receiving a devastating diagnosis, advocating for others, only to later discover it was incorrect, while still suffering from the same symptoms. "I just want you to imagine that for one moment," Gilbert wrote, "what that might feel like for you. Or how you might feel if it happened to one of your children or your spouse or someone you cared deeply about. I just sometimes wish that maybe you’d take a moment to dig deep in your soul and find a modicum of empathy, before you speak."

"The View" hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sara Haines also condemned Kelly's statements. Goldberg questioned Kelly's remarks, asking, "you think Christina wanted to have MS so she could have a good time? Are you crazy?" Haines added, "Who wants to be the face of MS? Talk about kicking someone when they’re down. She got a diagnosis and wanted to help other people."

Applegate, 54, has been candid about the impact of her symptoms, which have led to reliance on a wheelchair and cane and have significantly affected her acting career. She described experiencing a "a great depression" and feeling as though she had "lost everything." The misdiagnosis, she said, is a "mindf**k" and has left her in a state of shock as she seeks clarity on her condition. Applegate has previously shared that her pain has often confined her to bed, but she makes an effort to be present for her teenage daughter.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, often debilitating disease in which the immune system attacks the body's nerves, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, mobility issues, vision problems, and cognitive difficulties. It is an incurable, lifelong condition.