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

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, Megyn Kelly's departure from Fox News was driven by multiple interconnected factors that created an increasingly hostile work environment for her:

Sexual harassment by Roger Ailes was a central factor in her decision to leave. Kelly experienced sexual harassment from Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, including being asked to perform an "infamous twirl" for him ^[1]. She initially remained silent about these experiences due to fear that speaking out would be a career "suicide mission" ^[2]. The sexual harassment allegations against Ailes led to an internal investigation and ultimately his resignation ^[3].

Donald Trump's sustained attacks significantly contributed to her departure. Kelly stated that she left Fox News because of Trump and described the environment as a "snake pit" that is primetime cable news, with Trump's criticism of her being a major factor ^[4].

Colleague Bill O'Reilly's behavior also influenced her decision. O'Reilly criticized Kelly for discussing the sexual harassment she experienced at Fox, which partially inspired her departure ^[5].

Financial considerations were also at play, as Kelly had been seeking a contract worth over $20 million during her 2016 negotiations with Fox News ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks several important contextual elements:

• Timeline specificity: The analyses don't clearly establish when exactly Kelly left Fox News or the sequence of events leading to her departure
• Fox News management's perspective: There is no information about how Fox News leadership viewed Kelly's departure or their side of the story
• Industry dynamics: The broader context of the cable news industry's competitive environment and how it may have influenced Kelly's career decisions is missing
• Kelly's memoir details: Her book "Settle for More" contains additional details about her experiences with Roger Ailes and her decision-making process ^[2], but specific content isn't fully detailed in the analyses
• Post-Fox career trajectory: While one source mentions her subsequent NBC deal and departure ^[7], the connection between her Fox News experience and later career moves isn't fully explored

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself is neutral and doesn't contain apparent misinformation or bias - it simply asks for factual information about the circumstances of Kelly's departure. However, the question's framing could benefit from acknowledging the complexity of the situation, as it involved multiple serious workplace issues including sexual harassment, political pressure, and professional conflicts rather than a single cause.

The analyses suggest that powerful figures like Donald Trump and Bill O'Reilly would have benefited from Kelly's silence or departure, as her presence and willingness to discuss harassment created challenges for the existing power structure at Fox News. Similarly, Fox News management may have benefited from her departure if it reduced internal conflicts and external scrutiny related to the harassment scandal.