Maddow Calls Reid’s Cancellation a ‘Mistake’ and Criticizes Network Leadership
MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow did not hold back during her Monday night broadcast, addressing the recent shake-ups at the network—most notably, the cancellation of The ReidOut and the departure of longtime host Joy Reid.
Amid a series of programming changes under MSNBC’s new leadership, Reid’s primetime show aired its final episode on Monday, ending a five-year run. Hours later, Maddow took to her own show, The Rachel Maddow Show, to deliver a sharp critique of the network’s decision.
For nearly four minutes, Maddow expressed her frustration, calling the move a “bad mistake” and suggesting that racial bias played a role in the decision. She also highlighted broader layoffs across the network, calling the restructuring unprecedented in scale.
Wow. Rachel Maddow called out her network for four minutes tonight, noting not just how special Joy Reid is but also how MSNBC is cutting 2 anchors of color & hurting the people who make all the shows possible. This is courage. A true class act. pic.twitter.com/XowbCflqjz
— Victor Shi (@Victorshi2020) February 25, 2025
Maddow’s Response: A Strong Rebuke of MSNBC’s Actions
During her monologue, Maddow, 51, made it clear she was deeply disappointed by MSNBC’s choice to part ways with Reid, 56. She described Reid as a colleague she holds in the highest regard, saying there was no one she had worked with over the past 40 years for whom she had “more affection and more respect.”
Beyond her personal admiration for Reid, Maddow voiced concerns about what she saw as a troubling pattern, pointing out that the network had also cut Alex Wagner’s primetime show and Katie Phang’s weekend program.
That feels worse than bad, no matter who replaces them,” she said. “That feels indefensible, and I do not defend it.
Rachel Maddow
She also emphasized that the layoffs extended far beyond on-air talent, impacting producers and staff in what she called an unprecedented move.
“This has never happened on this scale, in this way before,” she noted, criticizing the leadership’s approach to restructuring. “It’s not the right way to treat people. It’s inefficient, it’s unnecessary.”
Maddow acknowledged that the news industry as a whole is facing challenges but argued that treating employees well is key to any organization’s success.
MSNBC’s Ratings and Maddow’s Continued Success
Despite these changes, MSNBC continues to perform well in primetime, with Maddow’s Monday night show maintaining strong viewership.
According to Nielsen data, her Feb. 13 broadcast ranked among the top 10 primetime telecasts, drawing 1.96 million viewers—beating out the 4 Nations Face-Off hockey match between the U.S. and Sweden. Maddow’s show has consistently remained a high performer for the network, pulling in 1.9 million viewers on Feb. 10 and 2.1 million on Feb. 3.
Meanwhile, MSNBC’s overall primetime ratings saw a 61% increase between Jan. 20 and Jan. 24 compared to the previous three weeks, averaging 1.3 million viewers.
With Maddow’s continued success and her outspoken stance on MSNBC’s programming decisions, her remarks are likely to fuel ongoing discussions about the network’s direction and its handling of talent and staff.
