Fox News has officially condemned Trump's "obsession" with the popular anchor as "beneath the dignity" of a presidential candidate.
In an unusual move by a major network, Fox News has officially condemned Donald Trump, for what it calls his "sick obsession" with anchor Megyn Kelly.
Fox defended Kelly in a statement released this week in the wake of the Republican front-runner's renewed attacks on the anchor, whose questions at a debate regarding Trump's treatment of women first enraged the candidate back in August.
Crazy @megynkelly says I don't (won't) go on her show and she still gets good ratings. But almost all of her shows are negative hits on me!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 19, 2016
"Trump's vitriolic attacks against Megyn Kelly and his extreme, sick obsession with her is beneath the dignity of a presidential candidate," the conservative cable network wrote in a statement.
"Megyn is an exemplary journalist and one of the leading anchors in America--we’re extremely proud of her phenomenal work and continue to fully support her throughout every day of Trump’s endless barrage of crude and sexist verbal assaults."
Read: Suspicious Letter with White Powder Sent to Home of Donald Trump's Son Eric
In August, the long-simmering feud between the billionaire and the reporter began as The Kelly File host asked about his history with women such as names he called some women he didn't like as "dogs" and "fat pigs."
"@Ma1973sk: Actually, no @FoxNews, @megynkelly has a sick obsession with Trump. Every day, every show, trashing, negative, hate.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 19, 2016
When he responded with what some saw as a reference to Kelly's menstrual cycle, some critics pointed to the outburst--as they had to Trump's statements about Mexicans--as the beginning of the end of his candidacy.
Fast forward to March and Trump is the leading candidate by a mathematically insurmountable margin.
Nonetheless, he's still willing to criticize Kelly harshly and publicly.
Read: 5 Sheriff's Deputies Suspended For Their Conduct At Trump Rally Where Protester Was Punched
If crazy @megynkelly didn't cover me so much on her terrible show, her ratings would totally tank. She is so average in so many ways!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 19, 2016
This week, Trump took to Twitter to blast Kelly yet again. He tweeted and retweeted a series of messages referring to her as "Crazy Megyn."
Trump also called for his notoriously mobilized supporters to boycott her weeknight news program.
"Everybody should boycott the @megynkelly show. Never worth watching. Always a hit on Trump! She is sick, & the most overrated person on tv," Trump tweeted on Friday.
Trump's campaign has also recently accused Kelly of biased reporting.
"Unlike Megyn Kelly, who resorts to putting out statements via FOX News, Mr. Trump will continue to defend himself against the inordinate amount of unfair and inaccurate coverage he receives on her second-rate show each night," the campaign wrote.
Watch: Donald Trump Supporter Sucker Punches Protester Being Escorted Out of Rally
