Joy Reid has spoken out for the first time since her departure from MSNBC sharing a candid reflection on the emotions she has experienced following the end of her primetime show, The ReidOut.
During an appearance on the Win With Black Women podcast, Reid revealed that she has gone through a whirlwind of feelings,including frustration, disappointment, and even guilt over the impact on her team.“I’ve been through every emotion over the past several days,” she admitted, explaining that the loss of her show was difficult not just for her,but also for the staff who worked alongside her. “I’m feeling guilt, you know, that I let my team lose their jobs.”
Despite the initial shock, Reid also expressed gratitude for the messages of support she has received from viewers and colleagues. While she acknowledged the pain of leaving MSNBC, she remains proud of the work she did on The ReidOut, believing that the show made a meaningful impact.
Reid, who had hosted The ReidOut since 2020, used the platform to address major social and political issues, including racial justice, immigration, and American politics. She reflected on the show’s significance and the topics it covered, emphasizing that she has no regrets about speaking out on important issues.
“I am not sorry that I stood up for those things, because those things are of God,” she said, referencing topics she frequently covered, including the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Her departure is part of a broader shake-up at MSNBC, as the network reorganizes its weekday and weekend schedules. Starting in April, the 7 p.m. time slot will be filled by The Weekend ensemble, featuring Symone Sanders-Townsend, Michael Steele, and Alicia Menendez. The trio will host the show Tuesday through Friday, while Menendez will also lead a two-hour block from 7-9 p.m. on Mondays. Notably, this change makes Menendez the first Latina woman to host a primetime cable news program on the network.
MSNBC officially confirmed Reid’s departure on Monday, with network president Rebecca Kutler acknowledging her contributions and praising her achievements. “We thank her for her countless contributions over the years. Her work has been recognized with several esteemed honors, including, most recently, the 2025 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding News Series,” Kutler stated in a message to staff.
Reid was not the only high-profile departure in the network’s programming overhaul. Alex Wagner, who previously hosted the 9 p.m. slot on Tuesdays through Thursdays, will transition to a new role as MSNBC’s senior political analyst. Her timeslot will be taken over by Jen Psaki after Rachel Maddow returns to her Monday night anchoring duties in May.
Reid has been a prominent figure at MSNBC since joining the network in 2011 as a contributor. Over the years, she climbed the ranks, becoming a weekend anchor in 2016 before securing her primetime spot in 2020. Throughout her tenure, she built a reputation for covering political and social issues from a progressive perspective and giving a platform to diverse voices.During the podcast interview, Reid expressed immense pride in the team she assembled for The ReidOut, highlighting their diversity and shared commitment to impactful journalism. “We were intentional. I was intentional in building my team,” she said, acknowledging the efforts of those who helped bring the show to life.
She also took a moment to recognize other Black female hosts who previously left MSNBC, including Melissa Harris-Perry and Tiffany Cross, underscoring the challenges faced by minority voices in cable news.