Joy Reid Says She Was Blindsided By MSNBC Firing, How Did She Find Out?

Joy Reid is breaking her silence about her shocking MSNBC exit, and says she found out she was being fired the same way her fans did… from a news article.

During a revealing new interview, the former "ReidOut" host claimed she received no formal warning before getting the axe.

Joey Reid even speculated that her outspoken coverage of Donald Trump and the crisis in Gaza may have sealed her fate.

"There was no warning," Reid said bluntly on "The Breakfast Club" radio show. "So I asked, 'Well, what's the issue?'"

According to Reid, MSNBC executives had reassured her just two weeks earlier that her ratings were strong enough to keep her primetime slot. "They were like, 'You guys lost less than your competitors, and you're actually doing fine,'" she recalled. "The ratings have not gotten better since I left."

Reid says it was a February 22 story from Puck News that set off alarm bells. The piece claimed The ReidOut was "vulnerable" due to alleged ratings struggles.

"My executive producer called me and said, 'Look, all of our producers are freaking out over this Puck story,'" she said. The next morning, Reid says she received a text from management asking to talk, and she was fired that afternoon.

"I was fired immediately," she told the hosts. "They said they just 'wanted to make some changes.' That was all I was told."

While MSNBC President Rebecca Kutler later claimed Reid's coverage of Trump wasn't a factor, the veteran journalist isn't so sure.

"He's literally threatening people to the point where '60 Minutes' is shook… He's verbally threatened Comcast by name," Reid explained, suggesting legal pressure may have made MSNBC nervous.

Reid also pointed to her coverage of Gaza as another likely reason for her removal, saying, "Talking about Gaza in a way that humanizes Palestinians… that topic makes people uncomfortable. That's not how cable news typically operates."

The Emmy-nominated host was ousted in February alongside fellow anchors Jonathan Capehart, Katie Phang, and Ayman Mohyeldin as part of a reported primetime shake-up.

Reid first addressed the situation with tears during a "Win With Black Women" podcast appearance shortly after her firing.

"I've been through every emotion... anger, rage, disappointment, hurt... guilt," she said at the time. "But where I really land… is gratitude. That my show had value."

Despite the shakeup, Reid made it clear she doesn't regret the bold positions she took on air. "I'm not sorry," she said. "I stood up for Black Lives Matter. I stood up for immigrant rights. I stood up for babies being bombed. Those things are of God."

Now, Reid is taking back her voice on her own terms.

She launched "The Joy Reid Show podcast" on June 9, placing her in direct competition with her former network.

"Throughout my career, I've been proud to serve as a trustworthy voice in journalism, particularly as a Black woman in spaces where the perspectives of women, and particularly women of color, are too often underrepresented," Reid said ahead of its launch.

"This new podcast marks an exciting new chapter, an opportunity to reach broader audiences, build vibrant communities, and lead thoughtful conversations on the issues that matter," she added.

One of the podcast's most exciting features is its "Freestyle Fridays" segment. With this live, interactive experience, Joy Reid engages directly with her audience, fielding questions in real time and encouraging unfiltered, thought-provoking discourse.

Filmed in a custom-designed, basement-style studio that adds a personal, intimate vibe, the show brings back her beloved "Who Won the Week?" segment and teases plans to expand into a five-day format later this year.

Reid is also seamlessly integrating her Joy's House Substack community into the podcast's content ecosystem, creating a multi-platform experience that blends exclusive newsletters, fan dialogue, and behind-the-scenes access.

Produced by Image Lab Media Group, "The Joy Reid Show" promises to be more than just a podcast. It's a space for truth-telling, wit, and cultural reflection, all delivered through the unapologetic voice that's made Reid a standout in modern journalism.