When Megyn Kelly was fired for saying it was fine for people to wear blackface on Halloween, Al Roker was one of the first to criticize her on air. But now he’s being called a hypocrite.
As they do every year, the “Today” show hosts dressed up for Halloween and followed a particular theme.
This go around they came as popular musicians, as well as movie characters from the ‘80s, and Roker dressed as Doc Brown from “Back to The Future” played by Christopher Lloyd.
There were some who asked why Roker was allowed to portray a white character for Halloween when Kelly got fired for speaking about someone wearing blackface.
“So here’s my question,” wrote one Facebook user. “Megyn Kelly loses her show because she posed a question about dressing as an admired character of color if you are of Caucasian background, and yet Al Roker dresses today as a beloved character from an iconic movie who happens to be Caucasian. Is there some hypocrisy in there?”
“Megyn Kelly is a terrible person to even suggest that it is okay for a white person to go as a Black character for Halloween,” another person wrote. “Also, Al Roker goes as Doc Brown, a white character from a movie for Halloween. #Hypocrites #Whiteface.”
Roker eventually responded but before he did, others on social media beat him too it.
“No, there is no hypocrisy but plenty of ignorance on your part,” wrote someone on Facebook. “Al Roker did not put on whiteface.”
Then another person posted an old photo of Roker dressed as Dracula and wearing white facial makeup, which sparked another round of debate.
“Wow the stupidity,” one person replied. “Please don’t comment if you have no idea what blackface is. Also, really, someone brought up Dracula? A made up vampire is your reasoning of why Al stoker is a hypocrite? Please stop the ignorance.”
Eventually, Roker chimed in through social media page and explained why he’s able to portray a white person compared to one wearing blackface.
“I’m going to say this one last time but the folks who get it understand, and the ones who don’t, won’t,” he tweeted. “I can be Doc Brown, and I wear the outfit and wig and not change my skin color. If you’re white you can be President Obama if you want. Just don’t color your skin.”
Roker’s tweet didn’t quiet the noise, however and some still called him a hypocrite. But others kept jumping to his defense.
