Overview of The Megyn Kelly Show Episode 1404
This episode centered on a mix of royal-family controversy, celebrity news, a troubling update on Presley Gerber’s death, and a long in-studio interview with actor-writer-director Chazz Palminteri. Megyn Kelly opened by dissecting the latest drama involving King Charles, Princess Diana’s brother Earl Spencer, and Piers Morgan, then moved through updates on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, William and Kate, and the Sunny Hostin juror story before spending the back half of the show with Palminteri discussing his life, career, and the making of A Bronx Tale.
Royal Family Drama: Earl Spencer, King Charles, and Piers Morgan
The core dispute
- Megyn focused on Earl Charles Spencer’s new memoir and its claims about:
- Then-Prince Charles (now King Charles III) allegedly reacting coldly to Diana’s death.
- Piers Morgan supposedly being rude when Spencer called to disinvite tabloids from Diana’s funeral.
- Piers Morgan strongly denied Spencer’s account, saying the book included false and defamatory details.
- A key factual issue: Spencer suggested Morgan was connected to a paparazzi-gym photo scandal, but Morgan said he wasn’t even at the publication yet when those photos ran.
What happened next
- Spencer issued a partial apology for the factual error regarding Morgan and said the book would be corrected in later printings.
- Piers nevertheless said he was pursuing legal action against Spencer and the publisher.
- Megyn argued the mistake was basic enough to undermine confidence in the book’s broader claims.
Megyn’s broader take
- She framed the dispute as part of a larger pattern of memory, ego, and media warfare around Diana’s legacy.
- She also suggested Spencer clearly dislikes Charles and may be shading his recollections accordingly.
Harry and Meghan: Security, PR, and More Publicity Problems
Reported Montecito return?
- Megyn discussed a report that Harry and Meghan may leave the UK and return to Montecito if Harry doesn’t get the taxpayer-funded security he wants.
- She mocked the ongoing security drama, arguing they knew the risks and still returned to the UK.
Meghan with Ellen DeGeneres
- Megyn highlighted photos/video of Meghan with Ellen DeGeneres, calling it an obvious attempt to look socially connected and important.
- She used the moment to criticize both women as disliked “bully” personalities who rely on celebrity optics.
Harry’s rough public appearances
- Harry gave a speech on AI at the Clinton Global Initiative, but his teleprompter failed, forcing an awkward ending.
- Megyn mocked his inability to ad-lib a short conclusion despite being a royal with elite schooling.
- She also mentioned a school visit where children seemed annoyed by the camera presence and attention.
Contrast with William and Kate
- In contrast, Megyn praised Prince William and Princess Kate for appearing polished and glamorous at a Tom Cruise film event with Tom Cruise and David Beckham.
Presley Gerber Death Update
TMZ report
- Megyn covered reports that a doctor may have been prescribing ketamine to Presley Gerber despite his known issues with the drug.
- TMZ sources suggested police are investigating and that this could resemble aspects of the Matthew Perry ketamine case.
Family context
- She emphasized that Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber appear to have been supportive parents.
- The tragedy, in her view, underscores how destructive the modeling/celebrity ecosystem can be for young people.
- She noted Presley had spoken publicly about struggles with addiction and pressure.
Sunny Hostin’s Cannibal Juror Story
- Megyn reacted incredulously to Sunny Hostin revealing she had once been a holdout juror in a case involving Daniel Rakowitz (“the butcher of Tompkins Square Park”).
- Hostin said she helped swing the jury toward not guilty by reason of insanity, sending him to a mental institution rather than prison.
- Megyn criticized Hostin for seeming proud of a result she viewed as dangerous and absurd.
Interview: Chazz Palminteri
Megyn’s main guest was Chazz Palminteri, who talked at length about his upbringing and career.
Upbringing in the Bronx
- Palminteri grew up Sicilian in the Bronx, in a tough but formative neighborhood.
- He described witnessing a murder as a child and learning early never to “rat.”
- His father was a bus driver and fight trainer; his mother took him to movies, which helped spark his love of storytelling.
Dyslexia and self-belief
- He didn’t realize until later in life that he was dyslexic.
- A teacher in college helped him see that he had real talent for writing and interpretation.
- He described early feelings of being “smart but trapped” in a tough environment.
Career struggles and the birth of A Bronx Tale
- After acting starts and survival jobs as a bouncer/doorman, he was fired from a club.
- That setback pushed him to write A Bronx Tale himself.
- He turned the story into a one-man show, then refused major offers unless he could star and write it.
- Robert De Niro eventually backed the project and helped make the film happen, agreeing to play his father and direct.
What A Bronx Tale is really about
- Palminteri emphasized it is not just a mob movie, but a coming-of-age story about:
- mentorship,
- loyalty,
- family influence,
- and the tension between good and bad role models.
- He described the iconic biker-bar scene and his theory that tough guys often try to be “nice first” before turning violent.
Working with major stars
Palminteri also talked about:
- Woody Allen on Bullets Over Broadway
- Kevin Spacey on The Usual Suspects
- Jennifer Tilly and Dianne Wiest
- Modern Family
- Robert De Niro
- His admiration for actors who understand timing, trust, and improvisation
Personal life and values
- He said he’s been married for decades and believes long marriage requires patience, loyalty, and not divorcing at the same time.
- He stressed the importance of letting children mature before entering show business.
- He discussed his podcast and said he likes showcasing a mix of celebrities and regular neighborhood people.
Closing themes from Palminteri
- Stay loyal.
- Protect your children.
- “Send the elevator back down.”
- Don’t waste talent.
Main Takeaways
- Royal memoirs are still radioactive: even small factual errors can blow up credibility and trigger legal threats.
- Harry and Meghan remain a PR machine: the show framed much of their public activity as image management rather than substance.
- Presley Gerber’s death may involve prescription-drug negligence: the ketamine angle raises serious questions.
- Chazz Palminteri’s story is about resilience: he turned a tough upbringing, dyslexia, and rejection into a major creative career.
- The episode repeatedly returned to a common theme: memory, loyalty, and the difference between truth and self-serving storytelling.