Megyn Kelly’s shocking defense of Jeffrey Epstein has ignited a firestorm, with even CNN anchors refusing to tolerate attempts to downplay child sexual abuse.
Story Snapshot
- Kelly claimed Epstein wasn’t a “pedophile” because he targeted 15-year-olds, not younger children
- CNN’s Abby Phillip cut off a guest attempting to rationalize Kelly’s dangerous comments
- Advocacy groups condemned Kelly’s remarks as “reckless and irresponsible”
- The controversy erupted as House Oversight released new Epstein documents
Media Personality Minimizes Child Sexual Abuse
Megyn Kelly sparked outrage during her SiriusXM show by arguing it wasn’t “quite fair” to label Jeffrey Epstein a pedophile. Kelly claimed Epstein was “into the barely legal type” referring to 15-year-old victims, suggesting this somehow distinguished him from predators who target younger children.
Her comments reveal a disturbing willingness to split hairs when discussing the sexual exploitation of minors, undermining the severity of crimes against children.
The timing of Kelly’s remarks proved particularly tone-deaf, coinciding with the House Oversight Committee’s release of additional Epstein-related documents.
These developments should reinforce the gravity of Epstein’s crimes, not provide opportunities for media figures to minimize his predatory behavior. Kelly’s attempt to create distinctions between different forms of child sexual abuse demonstrates a concerning lack of moral clarity on protecting minors.
CNN Anchor Refuses to Normalize Dangerous Rhetoric
During a CNN segment discussing Kelly’s comments, anchor Abby Phillip demonstrated proper journalistic standards by firmly shutting down a guest’s attempt to rationalize the remarks.
Phillip’s decisive “I’m going to stop you there!” response highlighted the inappropriate nature of defending or explaining away language that minimizes child sexual abuse. This moment showcased the stark difference between responsible journalism and reckless commentary.
Phillip’s intervention serves as a model for how media professionals should handle attempts to normalize dangerous rhetoric about child exploitation.
Rather than allowing prolonged debate about technical definitions, she recognized the fundamental truth: adults who sexually abuse minors are predators, regardless of the victim’s specific age. This approach protects both survivors and maintains ethical broadcasting standards.
Advocacy Groups Condemn Reckless Commentary
UltraViolet Action spokesperson Elisa Batista delivered a crystal-clear response to Kelly’s comments: “Jeffrey Epstein is a pedophile. Full stop.
A middle-aged man grooming and sexually exploiting 15-year-old girls is child abuse. Full stop.” This unequivocal statement reflects the consensus among child protection advocates who refuse to engage in semantic games when discussing predatory behavior against minors.
The widespread backlash against Kelly’s remarks demonstrates that Americans understand the fundamental principle of protecting children from sexual exploitation.
Advocacy groups recognize that attempts to create distinctions between different forms of child abuse serve only to provide cover for predators and their enablers. Kelly’s comments represent exactly the kind of dangerous rhetoric that undermines efforts to protect vulnerable minors from exploitation.
Sources:
Megyn Kelly Suddenly Finds Pedophilia Very Hard to Define
