UPDATE: NBC News Confirms It Will Air Alex Jones Interview This Sunday

UPDATE 6/16: NBC News confirms it will air Megyn Kelly's interview with Alex Jones this Sunday. In a statement released to the press today, NBC News said "Despite Alex Jones' efforts to distract from and ultimately prevent the airing of our report, we remain committed to giving viewers context and insight into a controversial and polarizing figure, how he relates to the president of the United States and influences others, and to getting this serious story right. Tune in Sunday."

Meanwhile, Jones leaked audio segments of what he describes as a pre-interview conversation he had with Kelly for the show.

Following backlash over the news that NBC will air a segment on SUNDAY NIGHT WITH MEGYN KELLY featuring conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones, the head of NBC News said yesterday that the network will move forward with plans to air the interview. Thus far, financial firm JPMorganChase is the only advertiser to officially pull out of the broadcast.

"That comes with the territory," NBC News Chairman Andy Lack told the Associated Press about the controversial episode. "It's not unusual. We kind of know when we're doing controversial stories, that's going to happen. It doesn't stop us from doing controversial stories."

In the past, Jones has questioned whether the massacre of 26 people, including 20 children, in 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., was a hoax. Lack assured the AP that the telecast will be edited in an effort to be sensitive to its critics. "It's important to get it right," he explained.

Kelly is a former Fox News host who joined NBC earlier this year. In a statement, she defended her decision to interview Jones. "I find Alex Jones's suggestion that Sandy Hook was 'a hoax' as personally revolting as every other rational person does. It left me, and many other Americans, asking the very question that prompted this interview: how does Jones, who traffics in these outrageous conspiracy theories, have the respect of the president of the United States and a growing audience of millions?"

Meanwhile, Care2, which describes itself as "the world's largest social network for good", has started a petition asking that NBC halt plans to air the interview. The petition has already garnered 1,500 signatures and reads:

Those who have signed the Care2 petition believe Jones should not be given a platform because he has endorsed many conspiracy theories, including that 9/11 was an INSIDE JOB and that the horrific 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school never happened and was a "false flag" that was actually an attempt to restrict gun ownership.

"There is nothing wrong with NBC "shining a light" on Alex Jones and Infowars, but it should not give him a full platform to spew dangerous lies and conspiracy theories," the Care2 petition reads. "The controversies Jones stirs up have real consequences for real people. As a result of his Sandy Hook conspiracy, so-called "Sandy Hook truthers" have harassed the parents of victims, accusing them of lying."

VIEW THE CARE2 PETITION HERE: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/293/282/153/

Image courtesy of NBC

Source: Fox News