Joy Reid took her final bow as host of MSNBC’s The ReidOut Monday after the network abruptly canceled her program.
Reid, who has been a staple at the network for more than five years, urged viewers to continue their resistance against tyranny. She spoke about past historical movements and reminded “Reiders” to use the power of their vote, voice, protest, and dollar.
“Medgar Evars said do not shop where they will not employ you,” Reid said. “Dr. King championed the Montgomery Bus Boycott to become the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. The labor movement shut down factories and hobbled industries to win the 40-hour work week that that you enjoy right now.”
“You don’t always win every battle,” Reid said, speaking directly into the camera. “But the whole thing is about resisting.”
During her time at the network, Reid was known for her directness, fearlessness, and relentless pursuit of the truth. The ReidOut was the highest rated Black-anchored primetime cable news show. Her show often performed as well as or better than most other primetime MSNBC shows. Reid also regularly bested primetime shows on CNN.
So the sudden news of The ReidOut’s cancelation felt jarring to viewers who had become enamored with Reid’s brilliant, witty, and unapologetic style of communicating.
The announcement of Reid’s ouster was coupled with news that other Black, AAPI, and Latino anchors had also lost their namesake shows or their anchor chairs altogether.
Reid’s fellow MSNBC anchors lambast the network as social media users call for a boycott
Many on social media called for an MSNBC boycott as news of the firings spread.
The hashtag #TVOff, a reference to Kendrick Lamar’s SuperBowl Halftime show, began trending on social media. Even elected officials like Jan-Michelle Kearney, the Vice Mayor of Cincinnati, joined in on calling for the boycott.
The group Win with Black Women also hosted a Zoom call on Sunday night supporting Joy Reid. More than 10,000 people joined that call. A tearful Reid told those gathered she was taking away “gratitude” because “my show had value”.
During her 9 p.m. show, Rachel Maddow, MSNBC’s most well known host, directly addressed the network’s decisions.
“I think it is a bad mistake to let her walk out the door,” Maddow said of her friend Reid. “It is not my call, and I understand that, but that’s what I think.”
“Both of our non-White hosts in prime time are losing their shows,” Maddow said, referring to both Joy Reid and her colleague Alex Wagoner. “As is Katie Phang on the weekend.”
Maddow called the decision “unnerving”.
“And that feels worse than bad, no matter who replaces them,” Maddow said. “That feels indefensible, and I do not defend it.”
At first , the Joy Reid show was informative and provocative.
Lately, it became REPETITIVE.
Overly liberal and stale.
Just like stale conservative evangelicals.
Boring.