Maddow Melts Down After MSNBC Drops Joy Reid—Total Tantrum Ensues [WATCH]

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow publicly criticized network executives Monday night following the cancellation of The ReidOut, the primetime show hosted by Joy Reid.

The decision, announced over the weekend, is part of a broader restructuring under new MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler.

Maddow, one of the network’s highest-paid anchors, expressed her frustration on air, arguing that Reid’s removal was a mistake.

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“I do not want to lose her as a colleague here at MSNBC, and personally, I think it is a bad mistake to let her walk out the door. It is not my call, and I understand that. But that’s what I think,” Maddow stated.

She also pointed out that multiple non-white hosts were losing their positions.

“It is also unnerving to see that on a network where we’ve got two—count them—two nonwhite hosts in primetime, both of our nonwhite hosts in primetime are losing their shows, as is Katie Phang on the weekend. And that feels worse than bad, no matter who replaces them. That feels indefensible. And I do not defend it.”

Alongside Reid, MSNBC has also removed Jonathan Capehart, Ayman Mohyeldin, and Katie Phang from their current time slots.

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The network has not confirmed who will permanently replace Reid, though interim hosts reportedly include Alicia Menendez, Symone Sanders Townsend, and Michael Steele.

Maddow also took issue with how MSNBC was handling staffing changes, criticizing the decision to make producers and staffers reapply for new jobs.

“Dozens of producers and staffers, including some who are among the most experienced and most talented and most specialist producers in the building, are facing being laid off,” Maddow said.

“They’re being invited to reapply for new jobs.”

She described the move as unprecedented for the network and called it “not the right way to treat people.”

Rachel Maddow just went on a 4-minute unhinged rant against the owner of MSNBC for firing Joy Reid.

This is the funniest clip you will see from today. pic.twitter.com/voRmt3Eh4K

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) February 25, 2025

Reid addressed her departure on Sunday during a podcast appearance, where she made it clear she was “not sorry” despite the network’s decision to cancel her show.

On her final broadcast Monday, Reid remained composed but used her platform to make a final case against Trumpism, equating it with fascism.

“Fascism isn’t just coming, it’s already here,” Reid said. “You don’t always win every battle, but the whole thing is about resisting.”

Reid also criticized Elon Musk, government spending cuts, and broader political changes, stating, “Tonight, on our final ReidOut, we are going to talk about what people are actually doing to resist this.”

Before signing off, Reid gathered network colleagues Maddow, Lawrence O’Donnell, and Nicole Wallace to discuss the cancellation.

The meltdowns over Joy Reid’s show ending are the best thing I’ve seen in forever. Couldn’t have happened to a worse person. pic.twitter.com/6fK1D4KyaX

— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) February 25, 2025

While none directly criticized MSNBC leadership, Wallace commented that she felt “despair” over Reid’s departure and added, “Despair is the autocrat’s tool.”

The cancellation comes as MSNBC struggles with declining ratings. Reports indicate that The ReidOut was among several shows suffering from poor viewership, prompting the network’s leadership to overhaul its programming.

In January, MSNBC recorded its lowest ratings in network history for the key 25-54 demographic, a critical group for advertisers.

During primetime hours, MSNBC averaged 734,000 viewers, trailing Fox News and only slightly ahead of CNN.

Network insiders suggest the decision to remove Reid was part of a broader strategy to improve ratings.

However, during an internal staff meeting on Sunday, employees reportedly expressed frustration over learning of the show’s cancellation from media reports rather than network leadership.

Kutler, who recently took over as MSNBC’s president, defended the cancellation, stating that programming changes were based on “data analysis and programming strategy” and not political considerations.

“Donald Trump was not a factor in the decision,” Kutler told employees.

“These changes will best position MSNBC for the year ahead.”

She also confirmed that staffers from Reid’s show had been terminated but would remain on payroll until April and receive severance.

As MSNBC reshuffles its lineup, the network faces increasing pressure to reverse its ratings decline and compete more effectively in the primetime news market.

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