Megyn Kelly criticized for suggesting Christina Applegate's MS disclosure seeks sympathy
Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly accused actress Christina Applegate of using her multiple sclerosis diagnosis for attention, prompting former colleague Janice Dean, who lives with MS, to denounce Kelly's remarks as hateful.
Megyn Kelly said on her SiriusXM program that actress Christina Applegate’s recent discussion of her multiple sclerosis diagnosis was motivated by a desire for public sympathy. Kelly argued that Applegate’s comments were part of a "cottage industry" of women leveraging illness for attention, adding that such behavior is "cultural" and "societal."
Applegate had disclosed on her "MeSsy" podcast that she was misdiagnosed with MS five years earlier and now faces uncertainty about her health. The remarks sparked a response from Janice Dean, a veteran meteorologist who has lived with MS for more than two decades. Dean, who previously worked at Fox News, posted on X that Kelly’s comments were "disgusting" and praised Applegate for speaking openly about her condition.
"Having #MS for over 20 years, she knows how long it took for doctors to diagnose me," Dean wrote, adding that she finds Kelly’s remarks "heartless" for a woman who was misdiagnosed and is still searching for answers.
Dean also told Page Six that multiple sclerosis is a misunderstood disease with no cure and that she supports individuals who share their vulnerability publicly. She said she spoke out to raise awareness and distance herself from the type of conflict she described Kelly as pursuing.
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions over how public figures discuss personal health challenges and the perception of gendered motives in such disclosures.