Joy Reid Announces What's Next After MSNBC Exit

Four weeks after signing off The ReidOut, Joy Reid has announced what her next career move will be.

The former MSNBC host sat down for an interview with Don Lemon on the March 20 episode of his live streaming YouTube show “Lemon Live at 5.”

During the hour-long conversation, the two discussed journalism, politics, and Reid’s exit from MSNBC.

“What the hell happened?” Lemon asked Reid.

Lemon then explained to the audience that Reid could only say so much because of “contractual obligations” and a non-compete agreement. Still, the former CNN anchor said he wanted details on how and why Reid was let go from MSNBC.

“It was a surprise,” she said. “Without violating any terms of my contract, I think I can say that I was surprised.”

Reid said a week before she was terminated, she had a meeting with the public relations department at the network about winning an NAACP Image Award for an interview she did with WNBA star Brittney Griner about being jailed in Russia.

Then news leaked in a media-focused newsletter that The ReidOut was being canceled, although Reid said she didn’t believe the report.

“I thought that just didn’t seem right, because I’d just re-signed my contract, I just signed again this year,” she explained.

As for why the show was cut, Reid said she had no clue.

“I couldn’t really tell you. I can’t explain what happened, because I can’t get in the heads of my bosses. I got the confirmation that Saturday, and that was that,” she explained.

People on social media have speculated that Reid was too critical of Donald Trump and MSNBC management didn’t want the headache with Trump back in the White House.

Later in the interview, Lemon asked Reid what’s next.

She said she has a Substack newsletter at joyannreid.com, and will soon launch a YouTube podcast.

“I am planning to do something like what you’re doing right here, and one of the things that I love that you’re doing and I am a Lemon head [listener]… I think that this format is so smart, and it is so accessible to people and this is the future. This is where it’s going. All we’ve got to do is get my godmother and the other senior citizens to figure out how to use YouTube and we’re in there,” she said before laughing.

Lemon predicted Reid will do well with a YouTube podcast.

“You’ve got the personality. You’ve got the name recognition, and you’ve got the gumption,” he told her.

The final episode of The ReidOut aired on Monday, Feb. 24.

Reid opened the show by encouraging her viewers to “resist” the changes happening under the Trump administration.

“When you are in the midst of a crisis, and specifically a crisis of democracy, how do you resist when fascism isn’t just coming, it’s already here?” she pondered.

“The first rule is to fight back, to never stop resisting,” Reid said. “Even if it’s scary or uncomfortable or inconvenient, just say ‘no’ or find creative ways to say ‘no’ in small ways or large. You don’t always win, but the whole thing is about resisting.”

Reid joined the network in 2014. She began by hosting the weekend talk show AM Joy, before being promoted to a primetime anchor slot in 2020.

Watch the interview with Don Lemon below. Reid discusses what’s next at the 1:04:50 mark.