[5][6][7][8] The first episode received negative reviews from critics, panning Kelly for her "awkward," "chilly" performance and failure to connect with the audience.

[9][10][11] The show attracted controversy during its first week of episodes, which included actress Debra Messing expressing regret for appearing on the program after Kelly asked a Will & Grace fan if the show inspired him to be homosexual, (fact check; Megyn asked the super fan if he was inspired to be gay because of the character Will Truman, which was a clear joke, she repeatedly talked about the positive impact of the show) [12]as well as Kelly's questioning of Jane Fonda about her plastic surgery procedures.

[15] NBC personalities such as Al Roker, Savannah Guthrie, and Hoda Kotb appeared as co-hosts on various episodes in an attempt to bolster ratings.

[16] Variety noted Megyn Kelly Today for its coverage and discussions of the Me Too movement, including allegations targeting fellow NBC personalities such as Matt Lauer.

When I was a kid, that was okay as long as you were dressing up as like a character", and added that "Luann de Lesseps wants to look like Diana Ross for one day, and I don't know how that got racist on Halloween.

"[18] Kelly's comments were widely interpreted as a defense of the practice, which is generally considered to be a derogatory caricature of African Americans.

"[19] Kelly opened the October 24 episode with a public apology, and joined African American journalists Amy Holmes and Roland Martin in a discussion over the controversies surrounding blackface.

[23][24][25] Alongside the blackface controversy, it was reported that Kelly had discussed ending the program so she could focus more on her role as an NBC News correspondent, but that the comments may have an impact on her overall future at the network.

[17] On October 26, 2018, NBC officially announced that Megyn Kelly Today had been canceled, and that its time slot would be assumed by other anchors.