Escalating Feud Between Mark Levin and Megyn Kelly Highlights MAGA Divisions

The ongoing feud between conservative media figures Mark Levin and Megyn Kelly has intensified, reflecting deeper ideological rifts within the MAGA movement. This conflict began to escalate following a Turning Point USA convention in mid-December 2022, where Ben Shapiro criticized right-wing conspiracists, including Tucker Carlson, prompting backlash from various factions within the conservative community.

Hollywood Reporter

Mark Levin, a prominent Fox News host and member of Donald Trump's advisory council, has publicly denounced Megyn Kelly, labeling her a “degenerate bigot” and associating her with the followers of white nationalist Nick Fuentes, known as the “Groyper Army.” Levin's remarks included references to Kelly's controversial past, specifically her dismissal from NBC News after defending blackface, which he used to question her credibility and character.

Hollywood Reporter

In response, Kelly has countered Levin's attacks by calling him an “old, irrelevant, bitter, angry man” and suggesting that his animosity stems from his inability to achieve higher status at Fox News. She accused Levin of being out of touch and irrelevant within the current conservative landscape.

Hollywood Reporter

The feud has drawn attention to the broader ideological divisions within the conservative movement. Kelly has faced criticism from pro-Israel conservatives for her refusal to denounce fellow right-wing figures like Candace Owens, who has made controversial claims regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a co-founder of Turning Point USA. Critics, including Shapiro, have labeled Owens and her conspiratorial rhetoric as detrimental to the conservative cause.

The Independent

Levin's attacks on Kelly have also included personal insults, suggesting that her past failures in television reflect poorly on her current standing. He has accused her of aligning with figures who promote conspiracy theories, further deepening the divide between traditional conservative values and the more extreme elements within the MAGA movement.

Hollywood Reporter

In the midst of this conflict, Kelly has defended her position by asserting that critics like Shapiro and Bari Weiss are fostering antisemitism through their pro-Israel stance. She has maintained that her criticisms of Levin are rooted in his perceived irrelevance and bitterness rather than any ideological disagreement.

The Independent

Levin, on the other hand, has claimed that he is content with his role at Fox News and has dismissed Kelly's assertions about his career trajectory. He has reiterated his stance that Kelly's associations with controversial figures reflect her own ideological failings.

Hollywood Reporter

While both Levin and Kelly have made strong statements against each other, the responses from other Fox News personalities have been notably absent. This silence from the network raises questions about the internal dynamics at Fox and how they are navigating the fallout from this public feud.

Hollywood Reporter

• “Meg Kelly, whose ratings were so bad on NBC she became a laughingstock, was canned for promoting blackface on Halloween,” — Mark Levin

The Independent

• “You’re just upset bc I’m not afraid of you or your baseless slurs,” — Megyn Kelly

The Independent

• “The conservative movement is in serious danger, from charlatans who claim to speak in the name of principle but actually traffic in conspiracism and dishonesty, who offer nothing but bile and despair,” — Ben Shapiro

Hollywood Reporter

As the feud continues, it remains to be seen how this internal conflict will impact the broader conservative movement and the relationships among its key figures.

The Independent