NBC's Megyn Kelly apologized Tuesday for asking if it was “racist” to wear blackface and defending its use if done as part of Halloween festivities when people “have the chance to make themselves look like others.”

“One of the wonderful things about my job is that I get the chance to express and hear a lot of opinions,” Kelly wrote in an email to colleagues. “Today is one of those days where listening carefully to other points of view, including from friends and colleagues, is leading me to rethink my own views.”


Earlier in the day on her show, "Megyn Kelly Today," the host discussed wearing blackface for Halloween.

“But what is racist?” Kelly said. “You truly do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface at Halloween or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween.”

“Back when I was a kid, that was OK, as long as you were dressing up as, like, a character,” Kelly said.

Kelly noted that TV personality Luann de Lesseps dressed as Diana Ross during the "Real Housewives of New York" premiere this year. De Lesseps was accused of making her skin darker, although she said she only used bronzer like she normally does.

In Kelly’s apology, she said she wondered why dressing as Diana Ross would be controversial if someone was trying to “make herself look like this amazing woman as a way of honoring and respecting her.”

“I realize now that such behavior is indeed wrong, and I am sorry,” Kelly said. “The history of blackface in our culture is abhorrent; the wounds too deep.”

“I’ve never been a ‘pc’ kind of person — but I understand that we do need to be more sensitive in this day and age. Particularly on race and ethnicity issues which, far from being healed, have been exacerbated in our politics over the past year. This is a time for more understanding, love, sensitivity and honor, and I want to be part of that. I look forward to continuing that discussion.”