Megyn Kelly Has Too Much to Say About Black Women’s Hair After Michelle Obama’s Book Release - The Root

Megyn Kelly Has Too Much to Say About Black Women’s Hair After Michelle Obama’s Book Release

Michelle Obama has long spoken about the pressures she experienced as the first Black First Lady, particularly how her appearance was often scrutinized. Her new picture book, “The Look,” explores her most memorable fashion and beauty moments and the challenges of navigating public expectations.

In the book, Obama shares that she often worried about her style drawing attention away from her duties in the White House. Many Black women have related to her story, citing societal biases and workplace discrimination regarding natural hairstyles. These discussions ultimately helped inspire the creation of the CROWN Act in 2019, which aims to protect against hair-based discrimination.

Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly, however, dismissed Obama’s perspective. On her podcast, she criticized the former first lady’s comments about the pressures surrounding Black women’s hair.

“That is bullsh*t,” Kelly said, according to the Daily Mail. “Black women can walk around with whatever hair they want. Only in Michelle Obama’s warped mind do white people not like them, unless their hair looks like white hair.”

Kelly’s remarks mischaracterize Obama’s statements. In reality, Obama told PEOPLE magazine that she aimed not to let her “hair become a distraction” from the work of her husband’s administration.

Author’s summary

Megyn Kelly criticized Michelle Obama’s reflections on the racial pressures surrounding Black women’s hair, opposing the former first lady’s more nuanced account of her experience.

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The Root The Root — 2025-11-06