Megyn Kelly sharply criticized the rollout of the Great American State Fair during a recent episode of The Megyn Kelly Show, calling the event “a disaster from start to finish” and mocking the overwhelmingly negative reaction it has drawn online. Her comments came as the patriotic celebration, originally billed as a major Washington, D.C. event tied to the nation’s 250th birthday, continued to face mounting backlash and artist withdrawals.
The Great American State Fair was first promoted as a large-scale national celebration in the capital, with organizers describing it as a patriotic showcase meant to mark America’s semiquincentennial. The event had been announced with plans for performances from nine artists over the course of the program, suggesting a high-profile entertainment lineup intended to draw broad public interest. However, the rollout has been beset by criticism, and most of the originally scheduled acts have since withdrawn from the event.
Kelly focused much of her commentary on the public response, saying she looked online for anyone defending the fair and found little support. She said she searched among Republican voices on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, but instead encountered widespread criticism. According to Kelly, even many of the conservative users she follows were dismissive of the event and its presentation.
“I tried to find somebody defending it,” she said, adding that the reaction she saw was almost universally negative. Kelly argued that the fair had failed to generate excitement or credibility, saying, “No one was impressed. It may sound mean, but it’s true. No one was impressed. Everyone thought this was kind of a joke.”
Her remarks reflect a broader wave of skepticism surrounding the event, which appears to have struggled to establish a clear identity despite its patriotic framing. What was intended to be a celebratory moment has instead become a source of ridicule for critics who view the rollout as poorly conceived and lacking in enthusiasm. The loss of multiple performers has only intensified the perception that the event is unraveling before it fully gets underway.
The controversy around the Great American State Fair highlights the challenge of launching a large public event tied to a symbolic national milestone. While organizers aimed to create a festive tribute to America’s 250th birthday, the mixed reaction and artist departures have overshadowed the original message. Kelly’s blunt criticism added to the growing chorus of doubt, reinforcing the impression that the event has failed to win over either supporters or detractors.
As the fair continues to face scrutiny, its future public reception remains uncertain. For now, the response has been defined less by celebration than by disappointment, with critics questioning both the execution and the appeal of the planned event.
