Conservative media personality Megyn Kelly went after CNN’s Chris Licht and her ability to lead the news organization after a profile in The Atlantic put her in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons.
“In the piece, Licht comes across as self-aggrandizing and insecure, uttering phrases to a reporter like ‘I’m a machine! ‘ while pumping iron in the gym. Oh my god. What kind of guy is this?” Kelly took the question during her Tuesday episode of SiriusXM’s “The Megyn Kelly Show,” later adding: “It’s clear she considers herself a mini Roger Ailes wannabe.”
The piece Kelly is referring to was Tim Alberta’s profile of Leach for The Atlantic, “Inside the Meltdown at CNN.” In the article, Alberta breaks down Licht’s goal to “restore the network’s reputation for serious journalism” — and how it all ultimately fell apart. The profile also portrayed the embattled CEO as an arrogant “scoundrel” who is obsessed with his predecessor, Jeff Zucker, while his CNN employees’ trust in him continues to wane.
“Now, CNN staffers are reportedly in full revolt. Their petty sentiments, already tender from the CNN town hall where Trump was staged and lied to, are now hurt by the criticism,” Kelly said. said Tuesday, he believes Licht thinks of himself as a successor to Ailes, the former chairman and CEO of Fox. news.
Kelly admitted, “Indeed, I found myself agreeing with much of what was flawed at CNN we inherited after Jeff Zucker’s ouster.” “It’s clear he considers himself a little Roger Ailes wannabe. But as I said on Friday, there was only one Roger Ailes – and Chris Licht ain’t.”
Kelly then played into the idea that Licht was allegedly trying to fill similar shoes to Zucker’s, while at the same time criticizing Zucker’s friendly relations with his former employees.
Kelly said, “Litch is now moving his office from the 22nd floor to the newsroom like Jeff Zucker did, but there is no answer.” “The children do not need to see their father every now and then. Zucker’s fickleness with his employees was really a problem, not an achievement. He wanted to be liked, he didn’t want to lead… But this is proof that Licht doesn’t know how to please his henchmen, he’s faltering. And apparently the Minions’ work with The Machine is done.
Watch the full segment from “The Megyn Kelly Show” in the video above.
