Megyn Kelly 'Fired' Sparks Twitter Reaction Over Interview With Conspiracy Theorist Alex Jones

Journalist Megyn Kelly was not fired by NBC for her upcoming interview with “InfoWars” conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on “Sunday Night with Megyn Kelly,” but she Was asked to give up her role as the emcee for a Sandy Hook benefit June 14 in Washington, D.C. The host did not immediately respond to the request from Sandy Hook Promise, the group sponsoring the “Promise Champions Gala.”

After 26 people were killed at the hands of Adam Lanza in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, 20 of which were children, SHP was created to bring awareness to gun violence prevention. Jones, however, claims the killings in Newtown, Connecticut was a hoax and that 9/11 was an inside job.

READ: Megyn Kelly Defends Alex Jones’ Interview

“Sandy Hook Promise cannot support the decision by Megyn or NBC to give any form of voice or platform to Alex Jones and have asked Megyn Kelly to step down as our Promise Champion Gala host,” Nicole Hockley, co-Founder and Managing Director of the organization said in a statement. “It is our hope that Megyn and NBC reconsider and not broadcast this interview.”

While there was plenty of backlash, Liz Cole, the executive producer of Megyn Kelly’s Sunday night NBC News show, wants people to see Kelly’s interview with Jones before they judge her or their sit down.

“He's a controversial figure for sure, but as journalists it's our job to interview newsmakers and people of influence no matter how abhorrent their views may be,” Cole told CNN Monday. “He is someone who is worthy of examination, by sitting down with him, there's value in that.”

On the SHP website, which was founded by the family members of Sandy Hook victims, the foundation says they want to make a difference by ensuring other children remain safe.

“Although we will never make sense of our heartbreak, we can make a difference today by making sure all kids remain safe at home, in school, and in their communities,” the website says. “Sandy Hook Promise represents one such effort that stands out from the rest. Formed by several Newtown families and community members, Sandy Hook Promise is a nonpartisan, grassroots nonprofit dedicated to building healthy, supportive communities where children are safe from gun violence.”

Kelly issued a response about the event in a Facebook post, saying Jones’ theory about Sandy Hook is “revolting.” But that’s why she wanted to interview him.

“It left me, and many other Americans, asking the question that prompted this interview: how much Jones, who traffics in these outrageous conspiracy theories, have the respect of the president of the United States and growing audience of millions?” she said. “Our goal in sitting down with him was to shine a light — as journalists are supposed to do — on the influential figure, and yes — to discuss the considerable falsehoods he has promoted with near impunity.”

READ: Sandy Hook Families Respond To Megyn Kelly's Alex Jones Interview

Some Twitter reactions to Kelly being “fired” by SHP have been posted below, along with others who want her to be canned by NBC.

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