Reid Was Fired From The Network Formerly Known As MSNBC Amid A Massive Shakeup, Despite Solid Ratings
One year after being dismissed from the network formerly known as MSNBC, now operating as MS Now, Joy Reid is not dwelling on the past. Instead, she is celebrating what she calls her “fireversary.”
Reid, a longtime political host and cultural commentator, took to Instagram reflecting on the anniversary of her departure. In a carousel post, she remixed Tony! Toni! Toné!’s classic “Anniversary” to mark the occasion with humor and gratitude.
“One year ago today, I was fired by the artist formerly known as MSNBC,” Reid wrote. “Yes! It was one year ago, on this very day, that MS NOW broke up with me and released me to do my independent media journey, which I am very grateful for. It has been a momentous year since Feb. 24, 2025, which was right before that ‘fake’ State of the Union.”
From ‘The ReidOut’ to Independent Media
MS Now announced Reid’s dismissal amid a broader network shakeup that also affected several other employees. Her primetime program, The ReidOut, was halted despite what Reid has maintained were solid ratings.
Last June, during an appearance on The Breakfast Club, Reid addressed speculation surrounding her exit. She pushed back on claims, including criticism from Stephen A. Smith, that ratings were to blame.
“Everybody, after the 2024 election, all of cable news went in the toilet,” she said. “Like, everybody’s ratings dropped. And we had actually just had a ratings meeting, like, two weeks before I was fired, where they were like, ‘you guys are actually losing less than your competitors and you’re actually doing fine.’ So our ratings were fine. We were doing fine.”
Since going independent, Reid launched “The Joy Reid Show,” building an audience through Substack and YouTube. According to Reid, growth has been swift.
“We’ve had no problems getting bookings and getting support, and I’ve actually been overwhelmed by how quickly the channel has grown,” she said. “Our growth trajectory is really good and really fast and so actually, I am very blessed to say: no issues. We reached a million streams in literally a week.”
In her anniversary post, Reid noted the irony that another State of the Union address is scheduled on the same day she is marking her exit. She also encouraged longtime viewers who still see reminders of her departure to follow her ongoing work online.
A year removed from her primetime slot, Reid appears focused on forward momentum. What began as a firing has become, in her words, freedom.
