Pundit Megyn Kelly is facing blowback for mocking a speaker at this week’s Democratic National Convention who celebrated attending a historically Black college.
“Laphonza Butler spkg – (she filled Feinstein’s seat) – celebrating that she and Harris both graduated from historically black colleges,” Kelly wrote Monday evening on social platform X. “Imagine the white person up there: I’m proud to tell you I went to a mostly white university!”
Butler, who was tapped by California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) to fill the seat of the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), spoke on behalf of Vice President Harris during Monday night’s gathering of Democrats in Chicago.
Butler noted during her speech that she and Harris had a shared educational experience: She attended Jackson State University while Harris is a graduate of Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Kelly, a former Fox News and NBC anchor who now hosts a popular podcast, was hit with blowback by some online over her response.
“Megyn Kelly presumably knows why historically black colleges and universities were formed in the United States. And why someone would be proud to have graduated from one,” commentator and frequent critic of former President Trump Bill Kristol replied on social media. “But what this tweet shows is how eager Trumpists now are to appeal to white grievance and white prejudice.”
Historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, were established prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to serve Black Americans at a time when most U.S. universities limited or barred their enrollment.
“Nancy Mace: I can call a Black woman whatever I want to call her, describe grown Black men as boys, ignore America’s racial history, and still play the victim role, Megyn Kelly: Hold my white robe,” Keith Boykin, a former Democratic aide, wrote in reference to a recent segment on CNN during which Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) fought with panelists over how to pronounce Harris’s name.
“It’s almost as if there is some context you are eliding,” journalist Matt Yglesias replied on X.
Butler was among a plethora of Black lawmakers, advocates and civil rights leaders who spoke on the first night of the Democratic convention and sought to highlight diversity within the Democratic Party.
Day 2 of the convention will feature more prominent Democrats, including former President Obama, second gentleman Doug Emhoff and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) are expected to speak.