Megyn Kelly dropped from Sandy Hook Promise event over Alex Jones interview

Gun violence prevention organization Sandy Hook Promise has cut ties with NBC host Megyn Kelly in the wake of her interviewing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who has called the 2012 massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School a hoax.

Kelly was set to host the organization's annual Promise Champions Gala on June 14 in Washington, an event honoring men and women across the country for their work in gun violence prevention.

SEE ALSO: Sandy Hook Promise releases chilling PSA on gun violence prevention

"Sandy Hook Promise cannot support the decision by Megyn or NBC to give any form of voice or platform to Alex Jones and have asked Megyn Kelly to step down as our Promise Champion Gala host," organization co-founder and managing director Nicole Hockley said in a press release. "It is our hope that Megyn and NBC reconsider and not broadcast this interview."

Kelly faced a wave of backlash when news broke of her soon-to-air interview with the Infowars host, including vocal criticism from Nelba Márquez-Greene, whose daughter Ana Grace was one of the 20 children murdered in 2012.

Click to see Márquez-Greene's criticism of Kelly:

The NBC host defended her "riveting exchange" with Jones, saying it is the media's job to "shine a light."

"POTUS's been on and praises Alex Jones' show," Kelly tweeted. "He's giving Infowars a press credential. Many don't know him; our job is to shine a light."

The Dec. 14 shooting in the small Connecticut town of Newtown left 28 dead. All the proceeds raised at Wednesday's benefit will help fund delivery of Sandy Hook Promise's research-based, no cost violence prevention programs to homes, schools, and communities nationwide.

Megyn Kelly's interview with Alex Jones is set to air this coming Sunday.