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SNL ridicules Megyn Kelly's controversial Epstein comments in Cold Open skit, ‘Terrific thing to just say…’

Megyn Kelly faced criticism on SNL for suggesting Jeffrey Epstein preferred “barely legal” individuals, arguing he wasn't a pedophile.

Published on: Nov 17, 2025 05:13 pm IST
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Megyn Kelly faced backlash during the cold open of Saturday Night Live, as she appeared to defend late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's behavior by implying that he preferred the “barely legal type” and was not a pedophile.

Megyn Kelly's defense of Jeffrey Epstein on SNL drew backlash, as the sketch humorously tackled Trump's connections to Epstein(Getty Images via AFP)

The sketch mimicked a White House press briefing, featuring an SNL cast member as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who responded to inquiries from journalists regarding President Donald Trump's ties to Epstein.

As the skit continued to satirize the absurdity of various scenarios involving Trump, the impersonator of the President eventually took over the role of the secretary to field questions directly.

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SNL mocks Megyn Kelly, ‘Great Job’

After the Trump impersonator addressed another inquiry concerning his association with Epstein, he justified his stance and referenced Kelly's comments: “I thought Megyn Kelly made a terrific point this week, she said Epstein's not a pedophile.”

Kelly stated that she was uncertain regarding the veracity of the claims about the deceased sex offender, but remarked, “we have not yet witnessed anyone step forward and declare, 'I was under 10, I was under 14, when I first came within his preview'.”

Epstein's alleged victims were reportedly as young as 14 years old, based on the indictment that was presented when he faced charges for sex trafficking minors in July 2019.

Kelly's remarks during her show coincided with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform unveiling 20,000 pages of documents obtained from Epstein's estate.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti

Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.

Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
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