Megyn Kelly Slams Rachel Maddow for MSNBC Critique: ‘Took Her Bosses’ Faces and Rubbed Them in Sh–t’

In a fiery segment on her SiriusXM program, The Megyn Kelly Show, conservative commentator Megyn Kelly unleashed a scathing critique of MSNBC host Rachel Maddow on February 25, 2025. The outburst came in response to Maddow’s on-air criticism of MSNBC’s decision to cancel Joy Reid’s show, The ReidOut, as part of a broader programming shakeup that also affected other non-white hosts. Kelly accused Maddow of insubordination, famously stating, “She took her bosses’ faces and rubbed them in sh–t last night,” a blunt remark that has since gone viral. The clash highlights the deep ideological divide in American media, the internal struggles at MSNBC, and the ongoing debate over accountability, race, and power dynamics in the television industry. As tensions simmer, Kelly’s comments have sparked widespread discussion about Maddow’s influence, MSNBC’s future, and the role of public critique in corporate media.

The Catalyst: MSNBC’s Programming Overhaul

The controversy began when MSNBC announced significant changes to its primetime lineup on February 23, 2025. Joy Reid’s The ReidOut, which aired at 7 p.m. ET, was canceled, along with shows hosted by other non-white anchors, including Katie Phang, Jonathan Capehart, and Ayman Mohyeldin. The network planned to replace The ReidOut with a new program featuring The Weekend anchors Symone Sanders Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez, while Jen Psaki’s Inside With Jen Psaki would expand to air Tuesday through Friday [Web ID: 0] [Web ID: 4]. The shakeup also involved laying off 125 producers, many of whom worked on Maddow’s and Reid’s shows, though MSNBC stated that 110 new roles would be created, encouraging affected staff to reapply [Web ID: 5] [Web ID: 15].

MSNBC’s new president, Rebecca Kutler, who took over from Rashida Jones in February 2025, spearheaded the changes. The decision was reportedly driven by a need to address the network’s declining ratings and a desire to incorporate more Republican voices, as suggested by Mark Lazarus, the prospective CEO of SpinCo, Comcast’s entity overseeing MSNBC after its planned spinoff from NBC [Web ID: 2] [Web ID: 15]. Reid, known for her race-focused commentary, had been a polarizing figure, and her cancellation was seen by some as an attempt to moderate the network’s progressive stance to appeal to a broader audience [Web ID: 15] [Web ID: 19].

Maddow’s On-Air Rebuke

Rachel Maddow, MSNBC’s highest-rated anchor with a reported $25 million annual salary, responded to the shakeup with a blistering monologue on her show on February 24, 2025. She called the cancellation of Reid’s show a “bad mistake,” expressing personal dismay at losing Reid as a colleague. Maddow also highlighted the racial implications of the decision, noting, “It is unnerving to see that on a network where we’ve got two—count them, two—non-white hosts in primetime, both of our non-white hosts in primetime are losing their shows, as is Katie Phang on the weekend.” She described the move as “indefensible” and criticized the treatment of staff, stating that the layoffs and requirement to reapply for new roles were unprecedented and demoralizing

Maddow’s comments were a rare public critique of her own network, directly challenging Kutler and Lazarus. Her remarks resonated with some viewers but also drew ire from others, particularly conservative commentators who saw her as overstepping her role as an employee. The monologue set the stage for a broader conversation about race, representation, and corporate decision-making in media, but it also made Maddow a target for fierce backlash.

Megyn Kelly’s Explosive Reaction

Megyn Kelly, a former Fox News and NBC host who now hosts The Megyn Kelly Show on SiriusXM, wasted no time in responding to Maddow’s monologue. On February 25, 2025, Kelly delivered a scathing critique, accusing Maddow of sanctimony and insubordination. “She really is one of the most annoying people on television,” Kelly declared. “She oozes sanctimony and self-righteousness, and here’s the real capper: She took her bosses’ faces and rubbed them in sh–t last night. That’s what she did” [Web ID: 0] [Web ID: 2].

Kelly’s comments were not just a personal attack on Maddow but a broader indictment of her actions within the corporate structure of MSNBC. She questioned whether Kutler and Lazarus had the “testicular fortitude” to fire Maddow for what she described as insubordination and disparagement of the network. “Rebecca and Mark, do you have any spines whatsoever?” Kelly asked. “Are you actually going to let an employee—that’s what she is, Rachel Maddow—talk about you, your company, and your decision-making this way?” [Web ID: 2] [Web ID: 3]. Kelly argued that Maddow’s behavior warranted termination, stating, “She should be fired. They won’t fire her, because I won’t say the P word, but they are a bunch of P’s, and she’s the only one who comes close to putting numbers on the board”

Kelly also criticized Maddow’s perceived hypocrisy, pointing out her $25 million salary and luxurious lifestyle while she lamented the layoffs of staff. “Why don’t you take a $2 million pay cut and save 10 of those jobs, if you feel that sad?” Kelly challenged, suggesting that Maddow’s outrage was performative [Web ID: 18]. She further accused Maddow of contributing to MSNBC’s declining credibility, particularly through her coverage of the Russia collusion narrative, which Kelly labeled as conspiracy theorizing [Web ID: 11] [Web ID: 18].

The Fallout: Public and Industry Reactions

Kelly’s remarks quickly gained traction, with clips of her segment circulating widely on social media platforms like X, where users debated the merits of her critique [Post ID: 1] [Post ID: 2]. Some conservative voices, including Benny Johnson, mocked Maddow, with Johnson suggesting that she might be “next” to be fired [Web ID: 22]. Others, however, criticized Kelly’s harsh tone, arguing that Maddow’s critique of MSNBC was a valid exercise of free speech and a necessary call for accountability on issues of race and representation.

Maddow’s monologue also had repercussions within MSNBC. Her ratings, which typically averaged around 2.1 million viewers per night, reportedly slumped in the weeks following her comments, prompting speculation about her future at the network [Web ID: 15] [Web ID: 17]. Some liberal viewers on platforms like Bluesky called for Maddow to resign in solidarity with Reid, arguing that her failure to do so undermined her credibility. “Rachel Maddow will have to resign from MSNBC (and leave $ on the table),” one user wrote. “She won’t be able to maintain credibility on that platform” [Web ID: 15].

Within the industry, Maddow’s actions were seen as a risky move. While she retained her executive producer and senior staff, the majority of her team was let go as part of the overhaul, with the option to reapply for new roles [Web ID: 5]. Critics, including media newsletter Puck, pointed out that Maddow’s enormous salary could have been used to save jobs, adding fuel to the narrative of her perceived hypocrisy [Web ID: 15].

A Broader Context: Media, Race, and Power

The clash between Kelly and Maddow underscores deeper tensions within the media landscape. MSNBC, long seen as a bastion of progressive commentary, has struggled with declining viewership, particularly after the 2024 election, where its heavy support for Kamala Harris failed to resonate with audiences [Web ID: 15]. The network’s decision to cancel Reid’s show and others hosted by non-white anchors raised legitimate questions about diversity, especially at a time when corporate America, including media, is reevaluating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives following Donald Trump’s return to the White House [Web ID: 22].

Maddow’s critique, while controversial, highlighted a real issue: the lack of representation in primetime slots. Her decision to speak out, however, placed her in a precarious position, balancing her role as a journalist with her status as an employee. Kelly’s response, while harsh, tapped into a broader frustration with what she sees as performative virtue signaling in media, a sentiment shared by many conservative commentators.

What’s Next for Maddow and MSNBC?

As of April 2025, Maddow remains a polarizing figure at MSNBC. Her show continues to air, and she has temporarily returned to hosting five nights a week to cover the first 100 days of the Trump administration, though she is expected to revert to Mondays only after April 21, 2025 [Web ID: 5]. The network’s programming changes have taken effect, with Psaki and the new anchors settling into their roles, but the fallout from the shakeup lingers.

For Kelly, the incident has bolstered her reputation as a fierce critic of liberal media, further solidifying her influence among conservative audiences. Her comments, while inflammatory, have sparked a necessary conversation about accountability and the power dynamics within media organizations. Whether MSNBC will address Maddow’s critique internally—or whether Maddow herself will face repercussions—remains to be seen.

Conclusion

Megyn Kelly’s blistering attack on Rachel Maddow, accusing her of taking “her bosses’ faces and rubbing them in sh–t,” has reignited debates about media integrity, race, and corporate accountability. Maddow’s decision to publicly criticize MSNBC’s cancellation of Joy Reid’s show and the treatment of non-white hosts was a bold move, but it drew a fierce response from Kelly, who saw it as insubordination and hypocrisy [Web ID: 0] [Web ID: 2]. The controversy reflects broader tensions in the media industry, as networks like MSNBC grapple with declining ratings, shifting viewer habits, and the challenge of balancing representation with commercial viability. As both Kelly and Maddow continue to command significant platforms, their clash serves as a microcosm of the ideological battles shaping American media today.