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Raven Varona/Parkwood/PictureGroup A Kansas City, Missouri nurse apparently took to heart TV commentator Megyn Kelly’s advice that it was “O.K.” to wear blackface for Halloween — and was immediately fired.
Shelbi Elliott-Heenan and a male friend dressed in blackface as Beyonce and JAY-Z, and she posted the photo on social media. She was quickly terminated by her employer, Saint Luke’s East Hospital, according to ABC affiliate, KMBC-TV.
The hospital issued this statement.
“On Monday afternoon, Saint Luke’s Health System became aware of a Saint Luke’s East Hospital employee who posted photos on personal social media accounts of her and another individual dressed in blackface for what appears to be a Halloween event. This information was shared with appropriate health system personnel and an investigation was initiated immediately.”
The statement continued, “While it is against Saint Luke’s policy to comment on specific personnel matters, we can confirm that this individual is no longer a Saint Luke’s employee.”
“Saint Luke’s is deeply committed to our culture of diversity and inclusion,” the statement concluded. “It is fundamental to who we are as an organization and we vigorously protect it on behalf of all our patients and employees and expect those who represent us to do the same.”
The Megyn Kelly Today show on NBC was canceled after the host said she didn’t see the problem with white people wearing blackface for Halloween.
She said, “You do get in trouble if you are a white person who puts on blackface for Halloween, or a black person who puts on whiteface for Halloween. Back when I was a kid, that was O.K. just as long as you were dressing as a character.”
Kelly later apologized, saying, “I was wrong and I am sorry.”
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