Megyn Kelly delivers an impassioned monologue about Matt Lauer's firing for alleged sexual misconduct

Screenshot/NBC News

Megyn Kelly

• The "Today" show host Matt Lauer has been fired by NBC News over an accusation of "inappropriate sexual behavior."
• In an impassioned monologue, NBC News morning show host Megyn Kelly hailed the recent flood of allegations of workplace abuse as part of "an empowerment revolution."

Megyn Kelly, the host of NBC morning show "Megyn Kelly Today," delivered an impassioned monologue about the recent flood of allegations of workplace abuse following Wednesday morning's news that longtime NBC host Matt Lauer has been fired for "inappropriate sexual behavior."

"This one does hit close to home," Kelly began. "I, too, have known Matt for a long time and he has been a friend and kind and supportive to me in my transition to NBC News, and I see the anguish on my colleagues faces."

But Kelly went on to say that her sympathy is with the women who allege that they suffered from Lauer's misconduct.

"What we don't see is the pain on the faces of those who found the courage to come forward, and it is a terrifying thing to do," Kelly said. "We don't see the career opportunities women lose because of sexual harassment or the intense stress it causes a woman dealing with it when she comes to work each day. I am thinking of those women this morning and hoping they are okay. The days to come will not be easy."

Kelly, who accused former Fox News chairman Roger Ailes and top Fox host Bill O'Reilly of sexual harassment while she worked at the network, went on to describe the recent flood of allegations of workplace abuse as part of "an empowerment revolution" in which women are beginning "to picture another reality, to feel that change is within their grasp."

Kelly has made sexual harassment a major topic of discussion on her new morning show and argues that while the firings of beloved personalities in Hollywood and the media are painful, they are "a sign of progress, of women finding their voices, their courage, and the erosion of a shameful power imbalance where this happened far too long."

NBC's "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie began Wednesday morning's episode with an emotional discussion of Lauer's firing, saying that she and her network colleagues were "devastated" by the news and "still processing all of this."

"For the moment, all we can say is that we are heartbroken. I'm heartbroken for Matt, he is my dear, dear friend and my partner. And he is beloved by many, many people here, and I'm heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story," Guthrie said.