Former MSNBC host Joy Reid disclosed that network executives were “horrified” by her social media activity and frequently urged her to stop posting on platforms like X before ultimately removing her from the primetime lineup in February. Reid shared these insights during an interview with Katie Couric on Monday, June 2, 2025.
Reid noted that her MSNBC supervisors contacted her whenever she tweeted, voicing their disapproval of her social media presence. She mentioned that executives instructed her to refrain from using X due to their disapproval of her posts. Reid suggested that network leadership opposed social media because it allowed talent to communicate directly with audiences without undergoing Standards and Practices approval.
Reid stated that the network preferred managed and curated content over personalities expressing themselves directly to viewers. She described this as executives losing control over their talent when hosts independently used social media platforms.
The cancellation of “The ReidOut” was announced on February 23, 2025, as part of a broader MSNBC programming restructuring under new network president Rebecca Kutler. Reid’s 7 p.m. weekday slot was replaced by a panel show featuring Symone Sanders Townsend, Alicia Menendez, and Michael Steele from “The Weekend.”
In her interview with Couric, Reid expressed confusion over the decision, stating she was unaware of the reasons behind it. She highlighted that just before learning about the cancellation, network staff were exchanging emails with the PR department, celebrating the show’s NAACP Image Award win. Reid asserted that ratings were not the cause for the show’s end, citing a recent ratings meeting where executives noted her program had declined less than others, except for Rachel Maddow’s, following the election.
Reid’s ratings were on the rise when she was terminated. Network president Kutler confirmed in a memo to staff that Reid was leaving and thanked her for her contributions over the years. Her final show aired on Monday, February 24, 2025.
During an emotional Zoom call with the Win With Black Women podcast, Reid discussed her departure and described feeling anger, disappointment, and guilt over her team losing their jobs. Despite the situation, Reid emphasized that she was not sorry for taking strong positions on progressive issues, including Black Lives Matter, immigrant rights, and opposing the war in Gaza.
The cancellation affected multiple hosts of color at the network. Alex Wagner was moved from her weeknight 9 p.m. slot to contributor status, while Katie Phang and José Díaz-Balart also experienced show cancellations, though both remained with the network. Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann described the changes as racially motivated, calling it a purge targeting non-white anchors.
Rachel Maddow defended Reid on her show, calling the layoff “indefensible” and expressing concern about losing both non-white primetime hosts. Maddow indicated it was a serious mistake to let Reid leave the network.
The programming changes occurred amid significant challenges for MSNBC, which recorded its lowest-rated January in history in the 25-54 demographic. During primetime hours of 8-11 p.m., the network averaged just 734,000 viewers, while daytime viewership reached 45,000 and peak nighttime hours had only 63,000 viewers. The network lost nearly half of its 25-54 audience compared to the previous year.
Staff meetings regarding the cancellations became tense, with employees expressing frustration about learning of the show’s fate through media reports rather than network leadership. Kutler insisted that programming decisions were based on data analysis and strategy rather than external political pressure, although she confirmed the show’s staff had been terminated with pay through April and received severance packages.
Reid, who had been with MSNBC for 10 years, is launching her own YouTube show and podcast called “The Joy Reid Show” on June 9, 2025. She used the preview conversation with Couric to discuss the circumstances of her departure and the network’s attempts to control her social media presence before the termination.