On Father’s Day, newly-minted NBC News anchor Megyn Kelly will air a sit-down interview with President Trump’s favorite conspiracy theorist, Alex Jones of Infowars. Among Jones’ many incendiary ideas is his belief that the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a conspiracy and that the families all faked the deaths of their children. He defends this belief in a preview of the interview Kelly posted, and those families are outraged.
In the preview clip, Kelly, who recently moved to NBC from Fox News, points out to Jones how angry the families get about his Newtown claims. Instead of responding to them, he simply starts barking about other conspiracies.
“I looked at all the angles of Newtown,” he insists, “and I made my statements long before the media even picked up on it. We didn’t get any of the really important stuff.” What important stuff? “Thirty years ago, they began creating animal-human hybrids. Isn’t that the big story Megyn Kelly should be doing?”
Next Sunday, I sit down with conservative radio host @RealAlexJones to discuss controversies and conspiracies #SundayNight June 18 on NBC pic.twitter.com/7bVz6Fobf5
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) June 11, 2017
Many family members of the victims of Sandy Hook reacted strongly to news of Kelly’s upcoming interview with Jones.
Nelba Márquez-Greene, who lost her daughter Ana Grace at Sandy Hook, did not mince words about Kelly’s decision to elevate Jones.
Hey @megynkelly , let me know if you want to give his victims equal air time. Promoting this fool is bad news. Do not encourage his abuse. https://t.co/WTJjFuSSuG
— Nelba Márquez-Greene (@Nelba_MG) June 12, 2017
Here you go @megynkelly – her name is Ana Grace Márquez-Greene. Say her name- stare at this & tell me it's worth it. @nbc #SandyHook pic.twitter.com/mKrU63KWmA
— Nelba Márquez-Greene (@Nelba_MG) June 12, 2017
It's a miracle no #sandyhook parent has ended their life yet. The loss of a loved one and the constant harrasment is too much. @megynkelly
— Nelba Márquez-Greene (@Nelba_MG) June 12, 2017
In @megynkelly 's America, cruelty gets u on national TV on Father's Day. #SandyHook grieving dads will go to the cemetery. #thisisnotnormal
— Nelba Márquez-Greene (@Nelba_MG) June 12, 2017
Because this is what it looks like when you shine light on #AlexJones – they don't go away. They double down @megynkelly . #SandyHook pic.twitter.com/GjeBVpC6HR
— Nelba Márquez-Greene (@Nelba_MG) June 12, 2017
The family of Victoria Leigh Soto, one of the teachers who died trying to protect her students from the shooter, posted this statement about how Jones’ followers have harassed them and disrupted their attempts to raise money for the scholarship in Victoria’s name:
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Danielle Vabner lost her brother Noah at Sandy Hook.
This is airing on Father's Day. Imagine losing your child in a shooting while the man who denies it happened gets an interview. #ShameOnNBC
— Danielle Vabner (@daniellelvabner) June 12, 2017
He has harassed & mocked Sandy Hook families, including my own.
— Danielle Vabner (@daniellelvabner) June 12, 2017
Cristina Hassinger lost her mother, Dawn Hochsprung, who was the principal at Sandy Hook.
This piece of actual garbage encourages people to call my mom's death a hoax and harass other Sandy Hook families. Shame on you @megynkelly. https://t.co/uGmhqQAEeR
— cristina hassinger (@chass63) June 12, 2017
Abbey Clements is a teacher who survived the shooting, hiding her second-grade students in the coat closet and singing Christmas songs to try to block out the sounds of the gunfire.
Disgusted & appalled @megynkelly @nbc–shaking actually! This monster's "theories" encourage listeners to torment victims & survivors. https://t.co/jm1ULWBXL9
— Abbey Clements (@abbeyclements) June 12, 2017
John Glueck lost his nephew at Sandy Hook.
https://twitter.com/john_glueck/status/874084267948691462
Kelly has responded to two (seemingly random) detractors on Twitter by defending the interview:
It was a riveting exchange. Promise you that. https://t.co/gbwE1A2wOa
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) June 12, 2017
POTUS's been on & praises @RealAlexJones' show. He's giving Infowars a WH press credential. Many don't know him; our job is 2 shine a light. https://t.co/5e88BJyqnz
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) June 12, 2017
She has not responded directly to anyone who was directly impacted by the shooting who has criticized the interview. In fact, Kelly has spent more time responding to conservatives who objected to her characterization of Jones as “conservative.”