Fact check: What were the circumstances surrounding Megyn Kelly's departure from Fox News in 2017?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Megyn Kelly's departure from Fox News in January 2017 involved multiple interconnected factors:

Primary reasons for departure:

• Kelly left Fox News because of Donald Trump and the "toxicity of the cable news environment" ^[1]
• She made the decision to join NBC News as her next career move ^{[2] [3]}
• Kelly had been engaged in contract negotiations with Fox News in 2016, reportedly seeking a $20 million contract ^{[4] [5]}

Underlying workplace issues:

• Kelly had experienced sexual harassment from Roger Ailes, the former Fox News CEO, including being asked to perform an "infamous twirl" for him ^[6]
• She described coming forward about Ailes' harassment as potentially being a career "suicide mission" due to fear of professional repercussions ^[7]
• The Roger Ailes sexual harassment scandal that emerged in 2016 created a toxic environment at Fox News, affecting multiple women including Kelly ^[8]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are not fully addressed in the original question:

Timeline and broader industry context:

• The departure occurred during a period of significant upheaval at Fox News following the Roger Ailes scandal in 2016, which fundamentally changed the network's culture and leadership structure
• Kelly's move to NBC was part of a broader trend of high-profile media personalities switching networks during this turbulent period

Financial and career motivations:

• The analyses suggest Kelly was seeking significant compensation increases during her 2016 contract negotiations ^{[4] [5]}, indicating financial considerations may have played a role
• NBC News would benefit from acquiring a high-profile Fox News personality to boost their ratings and credibility
• Fox News management may have been reluctant to meet Kelly's demands, especially given the network's internal turmoil

Political pressures:

• Kelly's contentious relationship with Donald Trump, particularly following her tough questioning during the 2016 presidential debates, created ongoing tension that made her position at Fox News increasingly difficult ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation, as it simply asks about the circumstances surrounding Kelly's departure. However, there are potential areas where incomplete information could lead to misunderstanding:

Oversimplification risk:

• Focusing solely on the immediate circumstances of 2017 without acknowledging the Roger Ailes harassment scandal and its impact on Fox News culture could present an incomplete picture of Kelly's motivations
• The question doesn't account for the multi-year buildup of tensions involving Trump, workplace harassment, and contract disputes that culminated in her departure

Missing systemic issues:

• The analyses reveal that Kelly's departure was part of a larger pattern of women at Fox News facing sexual harassment and hostile work environments ^{[7] [8] [6]}
• Presenting her departure as solely a career move without acknowledging these workplace safety concerns would be misleading

The circumstances surrounding Kelly's departure represent a complex intersection of personal safety concerns, political pressures, financial negotiations, and career ambitions rather than a simple job change.