Joy Reid recently joked about her exit from MSNBC with a sense of humor, addressing the topic during her appearance at Essence’s Black Women in Hollywood event on February 27.
The 56-year-old broadcaster began her speech by making a playful reference to the end of her nightly news show, The ReidOut, on MSNBC. “Good afternoon and welcome to Essence’s Black Women in Hollywood,” she said. “Now, I think you might have heard that I recently been through a breakup, but not with my husband!”
Reid quickly clarified, adding, “Not with my husband, because today actually is our anniversary,” revealing that she and her husband were celebrating 28 years of marriage.
Her lighthearted comment came after MSNBC’s new president, Rebecca Kulter, announced on February 24 that Reid would be leaving the network. In a memo to staff, Kulter expressed gratitude for Reid’s contributions over the years, noting her recognition with multiple honors, including the 2025 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News Series.
Reid shared her own thoughts in a statement posted on BlueSky and Instagram shortly after the announcement. “I just want to say thank you to everyone who has reached out with kindness and encouragement, both personally and in these social media streets,” Reid said. “So very proud of The ReidOut team, who are truly family, and all of our supporters & friends. See you tomorrow night at 7, one more time.”
The ReidOut had been a staple on MSNBC since its launch in 2020, with Reid hosting in-depth interviews with politicians and public figures.
In an appearance on the Win With Black Women podcast on February 24, Reid discussed her departure and the emotional turmoil she had been experiencing. “I’ve been through every emotion from anger, rage, disappointment, hurt, guilt, that I let my team lose their jobs,” she said, becoming emotional. “But in the end, where I really land… is just gratitude. Just pure gratitude. And gratitude not just because people would take the time to get on a call like this or to take care of me, but also that my show had value.”
Reid also expressed no regrets about the stories she covered during her time at MSNBC, including the Black Lives Matter movement, hate crimes against Asian Americans, and immigration. “I’m not sorry. I am not sorry that I stood up for those things,” she added.
