Megyn Kelly to leave Fox News for new role at NBC

The New York Times first reported that people briefed on Kelly’s negotiations with NBC News said Kelly was lured away from her gig at Fox News, where she has worked for the past 12 years, for an undisclosed amount of money.

Andrew Lack, the chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group., confirmed that the news of their “multi-year agreement” with an official statement shortly after.

“Megyn is an exceptional journalist and news anchor, who has had an extraordinary career” Lack said in the statement. “She’s demonstrated tremendous skill and poise, and we’re lucky to have her.”

Her new position combine three roles: hosting a Monday-Friday daytime news show, anchoring a Sunday nightly news show and becoming a regular part of the network’s political programming and coverage of other big events.

Kelly, who has anchored Fox News’ “The Kelly File” since 2013, skyrocketed toward the upper ranks of Fox News’ roster of on-screen talent over the past few years, eclipsed in ratings only by longtime Fox News host Bill O’Reilly. This was especially true during President-elect Donald Trump’s long and caustic campaign battle.

Her public feud with Trump, which kicked off when she served as moderator during a debate of the Republican presidential nominees in August 2015, kept her in the spotlight in a way unprecedented throughout her tenure.

Reaction to the news was swift and divided on social media. Several Fox News viewers lamented the loss of Kelly, worrying about how that time slot would fare without her. Many liberals questioned whether her coverage would still allegedly skew conservative at NBC News or if that aspect of her work would be left behind at Fox.

Her previous work at Fox News consisted of helping to create and anchoring “America Live,” a two-hour solo afternoon show, and co-anchoring “America’s Newsroom” with colleague Bill Hemmer.

Before joining Fox News, Kelly worked as a general assignment reporter for Washington, D.C.-based WJLA-TV and practiced law for Jones Day and Bickel & Brewer.

She studied political science at Syracuse University and received her J.D. from Albany Law School.

This is a developing story. Please stay tuned for updates …