Former MSNBC host Joy Reid revealed that network executives were “horrified” by her social media activity, frequently urging her to cease posting on platforms like X, according to Reid during an interview with Katie Couric on June 2, 2025. Reid eventually left the primetime lineup in February after being fired.

Reid described how MSNBC executives would contact her each time she tweeted, expressing disapproval of her online presence. She stated that the network’s leadership disliked her social media activity, as it allowed her to communicate directly with audiences without going through the network’s approval processes.

According to Reid, the network favored content that was managed and curated over direct communication from hosts to viewers. She characterized this preference as an attempt by executives to maintain control over their talent’s public expressions.

“The ReidOut” was canceled on February 23, 2025, as part of a broader programming overhaul at MSNBC under the leadership of new network president Rebecca Kutler. Reid’s 7 p.m. time slot was replaced by a panel show featuring Symone Sanders Townsend, Alicia Menendez, and Michael Steele from “The Weekend.”

Reid expressed uncertainty about the cancellation during her discussion with Couric, noting that the decision came shortly after network staff were celebrating the show’s NAACP Image Award win. Reid emphasized that ratings were not the cause, citing a recent meeting where it was discussed that her show’s ratings had declined less than others, aside from Rachel Maddow’s, after the election.

The Daily Beast reported in March that Reid’s ratings were on the rise at the time of her termination. Network president Kutler confirmed Reid’s departure in a memo, thanking her for her contributions over the years. Her final show aired on February 24, 2025.

During a Zoom call with the Win With Black Women podcast, Reid discussed her departure emotionally, describing feelings of anger, disappointment, and guilt for her team. Despite this, Reid remained unapologetic about her positions on issues such as Black Lives Matter, immigrant rights, and opposition to the war in Gaza.

The cancellation affected several hosts of color within the network. Alex Wagner transitioned from her 9 p.m. slot to a contributor role, while Katie Phang and José Díaz-Balart also experienced show cancellations but remained with the network. Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann described these changes as racially motivated, suggesting a targeted purge of non-white anchors.

Rachel Maddow defended Reid on her show, calling the layoff “indefensible” and expressing concern over the loss of nonwhite primetime hosts. Maddow indicated that letting Reid leave was a mistake for the network.

These programming changes occurred during a challenging period for MSNBC, which faced its lowest-rated January in history for the 25-54 demographic. Primetime viewership averaged 734,000, while daytime numbers dropped to 45,000, with peak nighttime hours reaching only 63,000. The network experienced a nearly 50% decline in its 25-54 audience compared to the previous year.

Staff meetings about the cancellations became tense, with employees expressing frustration about learning of the show’s fate through media reports. Kutler insisted that these decisions were based on data and strategy, confirming that affected staff would be paid through April and had received severance packages.

Reid, who had been with MSNBC for 10 years, is preparing to launch her own YouTube show and podcast called “The Joy Reid Show” on June 9, 2025. She used her conversation with Couric to address her departure and the network’s efforts to control her social media presence before her termination.