The firing of Joy Reid has sent shockwaves through MSNBC, with Rebecca Kutler, the new network president, struggling to reach Reid after the decision. Sources report that this has led to intense speculation about the true reasons behind the firing. Fans have voiced their frustration, accusing the network of suppressing critical voices. Is this move part of a broader effort to control MSNBC’s narrative and direction?

MSNBC Faces Backlash After Joy Reid’s Show Is Canceled—A Turning Point for the Network Amid Declining Viewership

The cancellation of The ReidOut, Joy Reid’s show on MSNBC, has ignited intense internal turmoil and public controversy, with network leadership struggling to manage the fallout. As MSNBC’s leadership scrambles to figure out what comes next, their handling of Reid’s departure has left employees and fans with questions about the future of the network. Despite the abrupt nature of the cancellation, network president Rebecca Kutler is still waiting for a response from Reid and her team about how to handle her final show, according to Status News. Reid, however, has remained unusually quiet about the firing, adding to the mystery of her reaction.

Rebecca Kutler | NBCUNIVERSAL MEDIA

In an address to the show’s staff on Sunday, Kutler revealed that the network had not yet heard from Reid, saying, “We are waiting to get a response from Joy and her team about how she would like to handle that, and we want to defer to her on that.” While the network hoped to air a final episode of The ReidOut, Reid has stayed silent, especially on social media platforms like TikTok, where she has been known for engaging with her audience. This silence has left many wondering whether Reid will make a statement in the near future or if she will walk away from the situation without further comment.

The meeting with the show’s staff was described as “tense and emotional,” according to Status News, as employees expressed frustration over the sudden cancellation of their show and a lack of communication from MSNBC leadership. Some staffers voiced their anger over learning about the show’s fate from media reports, rather than from the network itself. “We’re upset we had to hear it from the press and not from our leadership,” one employee reportedly said. In an attempt to ease the tensions, Kutler explained that the decision was based on “data analysis and programming strategy,” aimed at positioning the network for future success. She denied that the cancellation had anything to do with political figures like Donald Trump, framing it as a programming decision based on audience trends.

Despite the reassurances, the staff remained upset, particularly about the fact that they were informed of their layoffs via the meeting, and not by management in advance. Kutler confirmed that the staff of The ReidOut would be terminated but would be compensated until April, along with severance. As for Reid’s 7 p.m. ET time slot, the network is replacing The ReidOut with a new panel show co-hosted by Symone Sanders Townsend, Alicia Menendez, and Michael Steele. While this new show offers a fresh dynamic, many are left wondering if it can fill the gap left by Reid, especially considering the struggles MSNBC has faced in attracting and maintaining viewers.

Reid’s firing is part of a broader set of struggles facing MSNBC, especially in light of the network’s declining viewership. January marked a historic low for MSNBC, with the network seeing its worst ratings in the crucial 25-54 demographic, which is highly valued by advertisers. In the 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET time slot, MSNBC garnered just 734,000 viewers, compared to CNN’s 522,000 viewers. These numbers illustrate the mounting challenges facing cable news networks, especially in the context of increasing competition and changing viewer habits.

MSNBC’s decline is even more pronounced in daytime hours, with the network attracting just 45,000 viewers in the 25-54 demographic during the day. The overall decline in MSNBC’s viewership is troubling for the network, particularly since it has also seen a drop of 41 percent in primetime viewership compared to the previous year. The struggles are compounded by MSNBC’s failed attempts to boost ratings, such as bringing Rachel Maddow back on-air five nights a week for the first 100 days of the Biden administration. Despite these efforts, the network failed to reverse its downward trend, and Reid’s cancellation is a stark reflection of the larger issues at play.

The decision to cancel The ReidOut and replace it with a new panel show signals that MSNBC is attempting to rebrand itself and adjust to the shifting media landscape. However, the loss of Reid, one of the network’s most prominent and well-known figures, raises questions about whether the changes are enough to salvage the network’s future. While Reid’s show failed to perform well in terms of ratings, it was a major platform for progressive viewpoints and discussions on social justice, race, and politics. The cancellation marks a significant shift for the network, but it remains uncertain whether the new programming will resonate with the audience in the same way.

Reid’s departure has sparked concerns about the role of diversity in MSNBC’s programming and how the network handles high-profile hosts. Reid, an African American woman, was one of MSNBC’s leading progressive voices, and her firing raises questions about how the network plans to handle its commitment to diversity moving forward. As one of MSNBC’s most outspoken hosts, Reid’s show was a powerful platform for discussions around race and politics, and her removal may signal a shift in the network’s approach to social and political issues.

Joy Reid may not do a final episode of The ReidOut following the show's cancellation

For MSNBC, this moment is a turning point. The network will need to take stock of how it can adapt to the changing media landscape, especially as its viewership continues to decline. With cable news networks losing ground to digital platforms and new media, MSNBC’s reliance on traditional programming models may need to change in order to stay relevant. The question now is whether the network can recover from this slump and create programming that will engage a broader audience, or if it will continue to struggle in the competitive world of cable news.

Joy Reid’s firing marks another step in the evolving media landscape, where legacy news networks are forced to reckon with declining viewership and shifting audience preferences. As MSNBC continues to face challenges, it will need to rethink its strategy for engaging viewers and adapting to the future of television news. Reid’s firing may have been a tough decision for the network, but it’s clear that changes are necessary if MSNBC hopes to remain a dominant force in the cable news industry.