After hearing that MSNBC canceled The ReidOut, Joy Reid, the political commentator and anchor, is feeling a lot of gratitude despite the tough news.
In a video call posted to social media, Reid opened up about her emotions following the cancellation, which came as part of a bigger network overhaul led by MSNBC’s new president, Rebecca Kutler, who took over after Rashida Jones stepped down earlier this year.
“I’ve felt every emotion these past few days,” Reid shared. “From anger, rage, disappointment, and hurt, to guilt over letting my team lose their jobs.”
But, she added, “At the end of it all, I just feel pure gratitude.”
When The ReidOut first launched in July 2020, it made history as the first primetime show at MSNBC hosted by a Black woman. After almost five years, Reid’s evening news program will air its final episodes this week. Before The ReidOut, she hosted The Reid Report and AM Joy at MSNBC.
Reid expressed that her gratitude wasn’t just for the people around her at the time, but also for the work she got to do on the show. “My show had value,” she said, fighting back emotion. “What I was doing had value.”
She reflected on how The ReidOut tackled major topics, from the pandemic to Gaza, and highlighted projects like the 1619 Project. “I went hard on issues, from Black Lives Matter to exposing how Asian Americans were being targeted,” she explained. “I used my platform to talk about immigrants like my parents, who came here to build a better life.”
Reid also became known for her strong critiques of Donald Trump and his administration, saying she was proud to use her platform to challenge actions “that were injurious to our liberty.”
The ReidOut will be replaced by a new panel show with co-hosts Alicia Menendez, Michael Steele, and Symone Sanders Townsend, according to Deadline.
Since the news broke, many people—including former colleagues, politicians, and viewers—have spoken out online in support of Reid.
Journalist Karen Attiah shared on X, “Joy Reid has been one of the few to give me and so many other Black voices consistent airtime. Black women’s voices are needed now more than ever. This cancellation hurts, but the bounce back will be impeccable. We got you, Joy.”
Former U.S. Representative Jamaal Bowman wrote, “Joy Reid educated a nation every single night. She is a beacon on MSNBC and all of media! Shame on MSNBC for this. SHAME SHAME SHAME!”
He ended with a call to action, urging Black people to build their own media empire, saying, “Anchored in truth, justice, and humanity. We stand up for Black people, for Gaza, for the LGBTQ community, and for oppressed people everywhere—and we will never stop.”
