Photo: Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
Megyn Kelly‘s time at NBC has officially come to an end.
Nearly three months after the peacock network announced thatMegyn Kelly Todaywould not be returning to airwaves, the television anchor — sheleft Foxfor NBC in January 2017 and signed a three-year,$23 million-a-year contract— has finalized her exit.
“The contract will be paid out, about $25-$30 million dollars,” a source with knowledge of the situation tells PEOPLE.
According to the insider, Kelly doesn’t have a non-compete agreement with NBC, but she had to sign a confidentiality agreement featuring the same language in her original employee contract.
“The deal wasn’t signed until the last minute,” the source adds.
A second source says that Kelly, 48, is “the one who has been holding off on signing. She was holding out because she didn’t like the NDA. There’s an NDA. Its’ standard. But she didn’t want to sign it. They’re very, very common. And she’s getting paid a lot. It’s the rest of the contract — roughly $30 million.”
As for her replacements?
An insider at NBC confirms thatCraig Melvin, Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones will be taking over the show’s third hour.
On Oct. 26, NBC confirmed reports that Kelly’s 9 a.m.Todayshow hour wascanceledamid immense backlash for her controversial remarks about blackface.
“Megyn Kelly Todayis not returning,” an NBC spokesperson told PEOPLE asTodayanchors Melvin,Hoda Kotband Roker replaced Kelly in her former time slot.
“I defended the idea, saying as long as it was respectful and part of a Halloween costume, it seemed okay. Well I am wrong and I am sorry,” she said.
Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty
She added: “I have never been a PC kind of person. But I do understand the value in being sensitive to our history, particularly on race and ethnicity. This past year has been painful for many people of color. The country feels so divided and I have no wish to add to that pain and offense. I believe this is a time for more understanding, more love, more sensitivity and honor. I want to be part of that. Thank you for listening and for helping me listen too.”
The outcry on social media was swift following the segment. NBC anchorscondemned her harshly on-airas Melvin called her remarks “indefensible” as well as “ignorant and racist,” and Roker insisted she “owes a bigger apology to folks of color around the country.”
According to NBC News, conversations had “already started about Megyn’s exit from the network” that week, according to a source. Another source told the network that “representatives for Kelly are scheduled to meet on Friday with company executives,” adding that it appeared “extremely unlikely” she’ll continue working at NBC following her departure fromToday.
Now that her exit has been finalized, Kelly is ready to move on — and work again.
“She’s looking forward to her next chapter,” a friend of Kelly tells PEOPLE. “She was an employee of NBC, so she wasn’t exploring other career opportunities yet. She was skiing with her family over the holidays and looked really happy.”
“She’s expected to be back in action soon. She will work again,” says the friend, who reveals that Kelly will do an interview with Dr. Phil later this month. “He’s her friend.”
source: people.com
