'Today' show's stars turning into mean girls'






  © Nathan Congleton / NBC / NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images Savannah Guthrie, Megyn Kelly and Hoda Kotb appear on "Today" on Oct. 25, 2017.
There's more drama at "Today."
A new report from Page Six points out some of the mean-girl antics the show's stars and staff have seemingly engaged in in recent weeks, and it's not pretty.
The report, published on Jan. 20, blames Megyn Kelly for having started it. Megyn, of course, has endured more than her fair share of drama ever since she joined NBC and assumed hosting duties for the third hour of "Today" last year.
After Hoda Kotb, 53, officially took over for disgraced host Matt Lauer, 60, following his ouster amid a brewing sexual misconduct scandal, Megyn congratulated her "'Mean Girls'-style," the New York Post's gossip column alleges.
Megyn, 47, said to Hoda on live television on Jan. 2, "We talked recently about how 10 years ago, your life was very different. You were going through a dark period... Do you take a moment on a day like this to stop and think, 'Holy moly'?"





  © Splash News Megyn Kelly is seen outside on The Plaza during the "Today" show in New York City on Nov. 17, 2017.
But she didn't elaborate on what she meant by "dark period." It actually refers to Hoda's breast cancer diagnosis and surgery, not something nefarious or scandalous, as many feel her language implied.
Staffers were shocked at Megyn's approach, Page Six reports. "Everybody in the control room gasped when Megyn brought up Hoda's 'dark period' because many viewers likely won't know exactly what she was referring to," an NBC News insider said. "That comment was awkward, mean-spirited. It really stung."
The gossip column further reported that the production team for Hoda and co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, 46, later threw Megyn under the bus when they highlighted her cringe-worthy interview with Hollywood legend Jane Fonda from September.





  © MediaPunch/REX/Shutterstock Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb appear outside the "Today" studios in New York City on Jan 2, 2018.
Viewers might remember Megyn and Jane made headlines after Megyn asked the actress about her plastic surgery during a joint interview with Robert Redford they were doing to promote their movie "Our Souls at Night." A surprised and offended Jane shut Megyn down without hesitation, calling it "the wrong time and place to ask that question."
When Jane returned to "Today" in January -- this time with "Grace and Frankie" co-star Lily Tomlin during Hoda and Savannah's 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. portion of the show -- Jane delivered a stinging quip about Megyn, asking Lily, "Who are you, Megyn Kelly?" after Lily joked she'd known Jane since "before your first face lift." Hoda and Savannah burst into laughter.


 
TODAY ✔ @TODAYshow

Jane Fonda had quite the response to Lily Tomlin's facelift comment


Hoda and Savannah's "Today" producing team -- Megyn has a separate production staff for the 9 o'clock hour -- then added insult to injury when they tweeted a video clip featuring the dig at Megyn.
There will, however, soon be some physical distance between all the women, as Megyn will remain in New York City to host her third hour of "Today" while Hoda and Savannah will co-anchor "Today" live from Pyeongchang, South Korea, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. during the Winter Olympics beginning on Feb. 12.
Deadline reports that Al Roker, Natalie Morales, Willie Geist, Craig Melvin and Dylan Dreyer will join them in South Korea while Kathie Lee Gifford and Jenna Bush Hager will remain in NYC with Megan, where the duo will host the fourth hour of the NBC morning show.
Stars who had a rocky 2017:

Megyn Kelly blames Savannah Guthrie and Hoda For Celebrities who can't stand Oprah interview And interview tape Was On the Air Kelly Ripe ABC WOW This Why Today' Show's Stars Turns Into Mean Girls  








  • Slide 1 of 12: <p>Though accusations of sexual misconduct dominated the headlines throughout 2017 and derailed the carers of some of Hollywood's biggest stars (Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., Russell Simmons, super-producer Harvey Weinstein, journalist Matt Lauer and more), other bold-faced names hitrough patches this year too! Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at celebs who had a rocky 2017, starting with <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/celebrity/profiles/overview/johnny-depp-317.article">Johnny Depp</a>. This year, the Oscar nominee faced money issues normal people could never even imagine: After he sued his former business managers in January -- and they filed a countersuit -- it was revealed that he is $40 million in debt. His lavish spending was broken down and included things like shelling out <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/johnny-depp-ex-managers-claim-drinks-30k-month-wine-1956482.article">$30,000 a month on wine</a> and $200,000 a month on private jets. In addition to his ongoing money woes, Johnny faced controversy when he said, "When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?" to a crowd in June. He was later forced to apologize, saying, "It did not come out as intended, and I intended no malice. I was only trying to amuse, not to harm anyone." Keeping all those factors in mind, is it any wonder the A-list actor might be looking forward to a fresh start in 2018? Now keep reading for more stars who struggled this year...</p>
  • Slide 2 of 12: <p>In July, "Dance Moms" star Abby Lee Miller reported to Victorville Federal Correctional Institution in California to begin a <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/many-dance-moms-are-not-sad-about-abby-lee-millers-prison-sentence-3006632.article">366-day sentence</a> for bankruptcy fraud. She was originally accused of hiding $775,000 worth of income in October 2015 and was sentenced in May to time behind bars, a $40,000 fine and a $120,000 judgment ."I'm just going to pretend that I am shooting a movie, and we're on set, and I am there for 10 months, and that's the way it's gonna be," she told "Good Morning America" of how she <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/dance-moms-star-abby-lee-miller-reveals-what-her-final-pre-prison-meal-will-be-3007454.article">planns to survive</a> her prison stint.</p>
  • Slide 3 of 12: <p>Megyn Kelly has sparked controversy ever since it was announced that she would be joining "Today" on NBC last year. But when her show finally debuted in the fall of this year, it landed with a thud. Since her show's inception, her <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/megyn-kelly-hurting-nbcs-ratings-report-3010186.article">ratings have continued to plummet</a> and have started affecting the rest of the ratings for "Today." In fact, Megyn's hour is down in audiences 32% year-over-year. Megyn's co-stars are also at odds with the TV host over her coverage of the Matt Lauer scandal and how she has handled interviews on the show.</p>
  • Slide 4 of 12: <p><a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/celebrity/profiles/overview/ben-affleck-241.article">Ben Affleck</a> went to <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/celebrity/ben-affleck-finishes-rehab-rupaul-married-and-more-icymi-news-3003724.gallery">rehab</a> earlier this year. "I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I've dealt with in the past and will continue to confront," he wrote on Facebook in March. He added that "this was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery." In the fall, after he was reportedly seen drinking again on a date with <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/ben-afflecks-new-girlfriend-left-her-husband-star-3007780.article">new girlfriend</a>, Lindsay Shookus, at an Emmys afterparty, Ben was repeatedly photographed visiting an outpatient rehab clinic where it's believed he's seeking additional help. But that's not the only reason why things were tough for the A-list actor this year. In January, he stepped down from directing a previously announced Batman solo movie. Then in July, the director who replaced him scrapped his script. And finally, in November, "Justice League" had the worst box office opening of any movie from the DC Extended Universe. Things are not looking good for the future of the Batfleck!</p>
  • Slide 5 of 12: <p>It was not the best year for <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/celebrity/profiles/overview/kendall-jenner-1412.article">Kendall Jenner</a>'s career. First, the model starred in a tone-deaf Pepsi ad that seemingly echoed the Black Lives Matter movement. In the infamous commercial, which debuted in April, the reality star leaves a photoshoot to join a protest against the police, where she ends the conflict by handing a Pepsi to a cop. The ad was <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/another-week-another-kendall-jenner-controversy-3006387.article">widely accused</a> of attempting to capitalize on the movement. Kendall was mortified, and Pepsi ended up pulling the ads. But that wasn't the end of her problematic spring. Kendall was also paid to promote one of the biggest fiascos of the year: April's <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/bella-hadid-kendall-jenner-fyre-festival-supermodels-social-media-fiasco-3006030.article">Fyre Fest</a>, which memorably results in hundreds of millennials stranded on a private island with inadequate food, water and shelter. Then she made <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/another-week-another-kendall-jenner-controversy-3006387.article">headlines</a> in May when she (instead of an Indian star) appeared on the cover of Vogue India's 10th anniversary issue. Yikes.</p>
  • Slide 6 of 12: <p>The year hasn't been kind to <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/celebrity/profiles/overview/katy-perry-333.article">Katy Perry</a>. A promising first single ("Chained to the Rhythm"), a Taylor Swift diss track ("Swish Swish") and a stunt-filled publicity campaign that included a bizarre 96-hour livestream of her life couldn't save her fifth album, "Witness," which inspired headlines branding it "a spectacular failure" and a "flop." Yes, it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in June, but in its second week, it suffered an 89 percent sales drop -- the biggest second-week sales drop in history. A high point came when Katy, who <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/celebrity/couples/romance-report-march-2017-katy-perry-orlando-bloom-split-diane-kruger-norman-reedus-more-36667.gallery">split</a> with Orlando Bloom in February, was the first judge hired for the upcoming "American Idol" reboot, for which she scored a jaw-dropping $25 million payday, according to reports. But then after she underwhelmed while hosting the <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/celebrity/photos/2017-mtv-video-music-awards-see-all-red-carpet-pics-3009772.gallery">MTV Video Music Awards</a> in August, rumors emerged claiming ABC execs were regretting making the hire (and blowing half their talent budget) without an audition. Then came the rotten cherry on top: Katy was snubbed by the Recording Academy when <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/awards-events/2018-grammy-nominations-see-stars-reactions-3010874.gallery">Grammy nominations</a> were announced on Nov. 28, failing to score even a single nod.</p>
  • Slide 7 of 12: <p>It wasn't all bad for Jimmy Fallon in 2017. But notably -- the funny late night host who used to be the runaway leader in ratings -- is starting to feel the competition. In the last year, Jimmy Fallon has seen lost 21 percent of his audience year over year after making the choice to not talk about politics. While "The Tonight Show," is the number late night show for viewers 18-to-49 years old, his competitors Jimmy Kimmel and Steve Colbert are starting to make a dent in his audience stronghold. Looks like talking about politics is actually a winning business for late night TV!</p>
  • Slide 8 of 12: <p>After <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/celebrity/profiles/overview/kathy-griffin-681.article">Kathy Griffin</a> appeared in a photo taken by controversial artist Tyler Shields in May -- the infamous shot showed her holding a bloody mask that resembled the decapitated head of President Donald Trump -- she was hit with backlash and death threats. She was also <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/celebrity/icymi-celeb-news-may-28-june-2-2017-olivia-newton-john-cancer-more-3006776.gallery?photoId=1005047">fired from her gig</a> hosting CNN's New Year's Eve coverage with pal Anderson Cooper, who openly criticized her for the photoshoot. In a since-deleted tweet, she said she does not condone violence and was "merely mocking the Mocker in Chief." After profusely apologizing in the wake of the scandal, she drew criticism again in August when she publicly declared she was no longer sorry. It's bad enough that she lost jobs and fans, but what's especially tragic is the fact that her longtime friendship with Anderson is no more.</p>
  • Slide 9 of 12: <p>Ja Rule's Fyre Festival was one of the biggest <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/bella-hadid-kendall-jenner-fyre-festival-supermodels-social-media-fiasco-3006030.article">flops</a> of the year. Together with entrepreneur Billy McFarland, the rapper organized what was supposed to be a luxury music festival in the Bahamas over two weekends in April and May. It ended up being anything but, with people stranded on an island without the food and accommodations they'd paid for. The festival was quickly cancelled and the organizers are facing multiple lawsuits.</p>
  • Slide 10 of 12: <p>Aaron Carter sure had a rollercoaster of a year. In June, he landed in the <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/aaron-carter-hospitalized-after-body-shaming-incident-3007631.article">hospital</a> for exhaustion after he'd been body shamed by fans. In July, he was <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/aaron-carter-had-run-cops-two-hours-georgia-arrest-3008283.article">arrested</a> for suspicion of driving under the influence and marijuana possession. He later claimed he suffered from a myriad of health issues and admitted to using facial fillers after being body shamed for being thin, a result, he said, of an eating disorder. In August, he came out as bisexual after he and girlfriend Madison Parker called it quits. In early September, he totaled his BMW and tested positive for numerous prescription drugs on an episode of "The Doctors." Finally, at the end of that month, he entered <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/aaron-carter-headed-rehab-3010022.article">rehab</a> to work on his health and "overall wellness," according to his rep. Finally, in late November, he was slapped with more charges stemming from his DUI arrest -- the same day he reportedly concluded his two-month stint in rehab. Aaron may not be completely out of the woods, but at least he's now making progress!</p>
  • Slide 11 of 12: <p>DeMario Jackson struggled on both "The Bachelorette" and "Bachelor in Paradise" this year. First, he was ousted from Rachel Lindsay's season after an ex appeared on the show and claimed that he broke up with her just to go on "The Bachelorette." (He denied it.) Then, on "Bachelor in Paradise," he was involved in a <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/corinne-olympios-admits-she-mixed-booze-pills-during-paradise-scandal-3009195.article">sex scandal</a> with contestant Corinne Olympios that halted production and resulted in both of them being eliminated from the show. Though an investigation into the alleged sexual misconduct <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/warner-bros-determines-no-sex-assault-occurred-bachelor-paradise-report-3007484.article">cleared</a> DeMario of any wrongdoing, the damage to his reputation had been done!</p>
  • Slide 12 of 12: <p>In July, an explosive report on BuzzFeed alleged that R. Kelly was running <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/icymi-celeb-news-july-16-21-2017-3008225.gallery?photoId=132642">an abusive sex cult</a>, with multiple sources accused him of brainwashing women. According to the report, the singer -- who has been accused, but never found guilty, of sexual misconduct -- is keeping multiple women hostage in his home. Some of the women's parents spoke to the outlet, claiming the music star controls what their daughters eat, wear, when they shower and sleep and how they engage in sexual acts with him. He's denied the claims via his lawyer, but the allegations sparked career repercussions: The rapper <a href="http://www.wonderwall.com/news/r-kelly-bites-back-reports-his-concerts-are-being-canceled-wake-sex-cult-rumors-3009067.article">canceled several of his shows</a> in the wake of the scandal, which he addressed on Instagram in August. "I want everybody around the world to know: Ain't no tours canceled, man," he said. "Despite what you hear -- don't believe the hype. I haven't canceled not one show." Despite his assertion, Variety reported that at least five of his tour stops had been called off as of late August. According to the trade publication, a gig in Memphis was canceled by the promoter due to "unforeseen circumstances."</p>
  Though accusations of sexual misconduct dominated the headlines throughout 2017 and derailed the carers of some of Hollywood's biggest stars (Kevin Spacey, Louis C.K., Russell Simmons, super-producer Harvey Weinstein, journalist Matt Lauer and more), other bold-faced names hitrough patches this year too! Wonderwall.com is taking a look back at celebs who had a rocky 2017, starting with http://www.wonderwall.com/celebrity/profiles/overview/JohnnyDepp .This year, the Oscar nominee faced money issues normal people could never even imagine: After he sued his former business managers in January -- and they filed a countersuit -- it was revealed that he is $40 million in debt. His lavish spending was broken down and included things like shelling out http://www.wonderwall.com/news/johnny-depp-ex-managers-claim-drinks-30k-month-wine-1956482.article" $30,000 a month on wine and $200,000 a month on private jets. In addition to his ongoing money woes, Johnny faced controversy when he said, "When was the last time an actor assassinated a president?" to a crowd in June. He was later forced to apologize, saying, "It did not come out as intended, and I intended no malice. I was only trying to amuse, not to harm anyone." Keeping all those factors in mind, is it any wonder the A-list actor might be looking forward to a fresh start in 2018? Now keep reading for more stars who struggled this year...