Rachel Maddow Calls Out MSNBC’s ‘Bad Mistake’ Over Joy Reid’s Exit
Alright, folks, grab your popcorn because the drama over at MSNBC just hit a fever pitch! Rachel Maddow, the queen of late-night news, didn’t hold back when she heard the news about Joy Reid’s upcoming exit from the network. During her show, she laid it bare, saying Reid’s departure was “very, very, very hard to take.” Maddow’s affection for Reid radiated through the screen as she gushed about the invaluable lessons she’s learned from her colleague. If there was ever a friend in the industry, Maddow just gave us the ultimate friend goals—talk about squad goals!
Now, it’s not just Reid feeling the heat. She isn’t the only one getting the boot as part of an alarming trend at MSNBC. Maddow pointed out that it’s “unnerving” to see their non-white hosts, like Alex Wagner and Katie Phang, also losing their shows. In light of these changes, Phang will still be around as a legal correspondent, while Wagner will continue on as a senior political analyst. But let’s get real—audiences are feeling the pinch of losing diverse voices during prime time.
As for Reid’s much-loved show, “The ReidOut,” brace yourselves for a rotating cast filling in for the 7 p.m. ET slot. A new ensemble news hour will dawn, hosted by familiar faces like Symone Sanders Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez—who will proudly be the first Latina in MSNBC primetime—which is a win for representation but a sign of unsettling times for the network’s lineup.
Maddow articulated her frustration, saying “this kind of limbo, the anxiety, and the discombobulation is off the charts.” She’s got a point here. With layoffs potentially on the horizon, it’s a mess of emotions for employees already stressed by the demands of their roles. As Maddow pointed out, this isn’t just about losing prominent hosts; it’s about the impact on the network as a whole. “It’s inefficient…and unnecessary,” she remarked, cutting right to the heart of the chaos. As Reid’s departure comes on the heels of other shake-ups, including Lester Holt exiting NBC Nightly News this summer, it’s becoming a head-scratching moment in the industry. Will MSNBC be the same without its powerhouse anchors? Time will surely tell.
Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and People Magazine, CNN, Variety
