Al Roker Claps Back at Critics Over His Today Show Outfit—But His ‘Ridiculous’ Defense Only Fuels More Outrage!
Al Roker Responds to Backlash Over His Halloween Costume
Al Roker is hitting back at critics who took issue with his Halloween costume—just a week after NBC canceled Today show colleague Megyn Kelly’s segment over her controversial blackface remarks.
For the Today show’s Halloween special, the hosts embraced an ’80s theme, with Roker dressing as Back to the Future’s iconic Doc Brown, originally played by Christopher Lloyd. However, some viewers questioned whether it was appropriate for a Black journalist to portray a character played by a white actor.
Roker, 64, wasted no time addressing the criticism, taking to Twitter with a firm response.
“I’ll say this one last time—for those who get it, they get it. For those who don’t, they won’t,” he tweeted.
“I can dress as Doc Brown, wear the outfit and wig, and NOT change my skin color,” he continued. “If you’re white and want to be President Obama, go for it. Just don’t color your skin!”
Read More:
- Savannah Guthrie shuts down rumors of Matt Lauer’s return to ‘Today,’ firmly stating: “He will never step foot in Today after the harm he caused me”
- Al Roker fights back tears discussing the LA fire and reveals a significant update in the police investigation
- Hoda Kotb unexpectedly reveals the real reason she left the Today Show: “It was all because of one person.”
The Megyn Kelly Controversy That Sparked the Debate
The backlash against Roker came on the heels of Megyn Kelly’s widely criticized comments about blackface. While discussing universities discouraging offensive costumes, Kelly questioned why dressing up as another race was considered inappropriate.
“But what is racist?” she asked. “When I was a kid, if you were dressing up as a character, it was okay to wear blackface or whiteface. Why is it suddenly a problem?”
Her remarks sparked immediate outrage, leading Roker and his Today colleagues Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin to address the controversy on-air.
“She owes a much bigger apology to people of color across the country,” Roker stated. “This has a long, painful history dating back to the 1830s with minstrel shows, where white actors in blackface mocked and demeaned Black people. It’s not just offensive—it’s wrong.”
Melvin echoed Roker’s sentiments, calling Kelly’s comments “ignorant and racist,” though he also described her as “a colleague” and “a friend.”
NBC Pulls the Plug on Megyn Kelly Today
Kelly, 47, apologized twice—first in an internal email to colleagues and then on-air, visibly holding back tears. However, the damage was done. NBC canceled Megyn Kelly Today, and she was absent from the network’s programming in the days following the controversy.
On Wednesday, Kelly’s attorney slammed NBC, claiming the network was spreading false information as the two sides negotiated her departure.
“NBC News is allowing false reports to circulate, inaccurately suggesting that Megyn has demanded more money than her contract stipulates,” attorney Bryan Freedman said in a statement to People.
An NBC spokesperson fired back, stating: “Unlike Mr. Freedman, who has continuously spoken to the media during these negotiations, we are respecting the confidentiality of the process and will not comment until discussions are finalized.”
Read More:
- Veteran NBC host Craig Melvin reluctantly steps into Hoda Kotb’s role after her intended replacement suffers an unexpected mishap.
- The real reason behind Al Roker’s gastric surgery is revealed by his doctor: “It was all driven by his father’s obsession.”
- Al Roker savagely grilled Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt in a past interview: Why is social media still in an uproar over it?
The Debate Rages On—What Do You Think?
Al Roker stood firm in his stance, but his response has only fueled further debate. Was his explanation justified, or did it miss the mark?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
