Megyn Kelly criticized Mariska Hargitay over her response to a sexual assault case involving Cornell University students. During her podcast, Kelly questioned Hargitay’s comments and also criticized the outfit worn by the actress’s 15-year-old daughter at the 2026 Emmy Awards.
Megyn Kelly Slams Mariska Hargitay’s Cornell Comments and Criticizes Her Teen Daughter’s Outfit
The criticism came after Hargitay spoke out about a case involving a former Cornell student who alleged that seven fraternity members drugged and sexually assaulted her in October 2024, according to OK! Magazine.
The case drew renewed attention in September after the woman filed a civil lawsuit. The Tompkins County District Attorney later reopened the criminal investigation and said the case would be presented to a grand jury.
Hargitay, who stars in Law & Order: SVU and founded the Joyful Heart Foundation, criticized Cornell’s handling of the case. She also shared posts calling for consequences for the accused men, writing, “Yes, I think we should ruin the futures of adult men who drug and gang r— a woman.”
Kelly began her podcast segment by discussing Hargitay’s career and appearance at the Emmys. Hargitay hosted the ceremony and attended with her family, including her 15-year-old daughter, Amaya.
Kelly then turned her attention to Amaya’s outfit, calling it “very inappropriate for a 15-year-old girl.” She questioned Hargitay’s decision as a mother and argued that the look had been planned in advance.
“Clearly this was designed and approved in advance by her mother,” Kelly said. She also speculated that a stylist and designer had worked on the looks because Hargitay was hosting the Emmys.
Kelly connected her criticism of Hargitay’s parenting choices to the actress’s comments about the Cornell case. She argued that Hargitay should not “lecture” the public about the situation while allowing what Kelly described as an inappropriate outfit for her daughter.
Kelly also challenged Hargitay’s characterization of the fraternity group chat. Hargitay had referenced 57 men being in the chat, while Kelly claimed that two participants had intervened.
“One of them said, we’re shutting this sh*t down,” Kelly said.
She further argued that there was no text in which the men said they were going to “gang r— someone.” Kelly also accused “left-wing media” of failing to provide what she described as important context.
