Megyn Kelly delivers impassioned speech on co-worker Matt Lauer, talks NBC and Fox News scandals

NBC host Megyn Kelly directly addressed NBC's firing of Matt Lauer as well as allegations of sexual misconduct at large Wednesday during "Megyn Kelly Today."

What did she say?

In her morning NBC monologue, Kelly admitted that the Lauer scandal "hit close to home."

"I ... have known Matt for a long time," Kelly began. "He has been a friend, and kind and supportive to me in my transition to NBC News."

Addressing Lauer's morning co-hosts Hoda Kotb' and Savannah Guthrie's dismayed reactions to the news, Kelly said, "I see the anguish on my colleagues' faces."

Turning her attention to accusers of sexual misconduct, Kelly continued, "When this happens, what we don’t see is the pain on the faces of those who found the courage to come forward. It is a terrifying thing to do. 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 OK," she added. "The days to come will not be easy."

Kelly said that the "sea of change" in the United States — on the heels of widespread sexual assault allegations emerging from Hollywood, as well as throughout news networks across the country — is an "empowerment revolution" for women.

"As painful as this moment is for so many here at NBC, 'Today,' at CBS earlier this month, at Fox News over the last year, in Hollywood this fall, it is a sign of progress, of women finding their voices, their courage and of the erosion of a shameful power imbalance that has been in place for far too long," she continued.

Kelly concluded her monologue with a reference to her former network, Fox News.

"I have been at another news channel where this happened, as you know," she explained. "In my experiences, a news organization is bigger than any one person. They all face challenges, they all stumble, but the good ones stay standing and forge forward, fulfilling their core mission: journalism. We’ll continue to stay on this story and bring you more as we know it. Until then, on with the news."

"We start this morning with this news: Matt Lauer has been terminated from NBC News." pic.twitter.com/9g5Ou9r2K6

— Megyn Kelly TODAY (@MegynTODAY) November 29, 2017