Academy Award-nominated actress Christina Ricci has unleashed a blistering response to commentator Megyn Kelly following controversial statements about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The Yellowjackets star took to Instagram on November 14 to share her unequivocal disapproval of Kelly's commentary on the recently released Epstein documents.
The Explosive Instagram Posts
Ricci shared two posts from betches_news that directly addressed Kelly's remarks made during an episode of The Megyn Kelly Show. The first post stated: "There's definitely a difference between a 5-year-old and a 15-year-old. But that difference is not 'whether or not sleeping with them makes you a pedophile.'"
The second post featured screenshots from Kelly's interview with conservative journalist Batya Ungar-Sargon, where Kelly discussed the House Oversight Committee's release of Epstein emails. Kelly was quoted saying: "I know somebody very close to this case... Jeffrey Epstein, in this person's view, was not a pedophile. He wasn't into 8-year-olds, but he liked the very young teen types... There's a difference between a 15-year-old and a 5-year-old, you know?"
Ricci's Unambiguous Response
The actress left no room for interpretation about her position, adding her own text to the betches_news post that read: "This woman is a danger to children." This seven-word condemnation has since sparked widespread discussion across social media platforms.
During her podcast, Kelly did describe the topic as "disgusting" and claimed she wasn't "trying to make an excuse," while still maintaining there were distinctions to be considered. She elaborated: "I'm just giving you facts, that he wasn't into, like, 8-year-olds. But he liked the very young teen types that could pass for even younger than they were, but would look legal to a passerby."
Public Backlash and Reactions
The internet response has been overwhelmingly critical of Kelly's commentary. Writer Mike Drucker expressed the sentiment shared by many, tweeting: "I want Megyn Kelly to say this to a 15-year-old victim's face. I want her to look that child in the eye and say it's less bad."
Kelly further complicated her position by questioning whether Epstein qualified as a pedophile despite former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi's claims about discovering child sexual abuse material on his computer. Kelly stated: "I have to be honest, I don't really trust Pam Bondi's word on the Epstein matters anymore."
The controversy highlights ongoing public sensitivity around discussions of sexual abuse and the appropriate characterization of predators like Epstein. Ricci's intervention demonstrates how celebrities are increasingly using their platforms to call out what they perceive as dangerous rhetoric, particularly when it involves vulnerable populations.
