NOTE: VIDEO AT THE END OF ARTICLE
Joy Reid Explodes at Piers Morgan Over MSNBC Firing: “You’re Angry Because I’m a Black Woman”
In a fiery on-air clash that has the internet buzzing, former MSNBC host Joy Reid took on British broadcaster Piers Morgan during a heated interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored. What began as a conversation about media and politics quickly erupted into a tense back-and-forth over the cancellation of Reid’s show, The ReidOut, which ended earlier this year as part of a reshuffle at MSNBC.
Reid, who has long claimed that racial bias played a role in her ousting, came under intense scrutiny by Morgan, who offered a blunt counterpoint: her show simply lost popularity.
“Joy, I mean, let’s be honest,” Morgan said. “I don’t think you were fired after all those years because of your skin color or because you’re a Black woman. I think you were fired because your show just got increasingly unpopular.”
📉 Ratings Tell the Story
According to Nielsen data, The ReidOut saw a significant drop in viewership leading up to its cancellation. In February 2025, the program averaged around 973,000 total viewers, down from 1.3 million in February 2024—a 28% decrease. That decline made Reid’s program one of the lower-performing prime-time shows on MSNBC.
While Reid argues her show’s decline was “less severe” than some others at the network, Morgan insisted that MSNBC’s decision was based on viewership, not race.
“You racialize more conversations in your tenure at MSNBC than any host in history,” Morgan claimed during the segment.
🔥 Clashing Over Identity and Race
Reid immediately pushed back, accusing Morgan of weaponizing race in his own way.
“I love the fact that your ‘play the race card’ is your version of the race card,” Reid said. “You literally are so fixated on trying to racialize conversations with me, Piers. I actually find it quite charming.”
The clash escalated as Reid accused Morgan of not understanding the lived experiences of Black Americans, especially Black women in media.
“You’re a White European, and when people of color talk about our lived experience in this country, it gets you angry,” she fired.
Morgan denied being angry and said viewers had grown tired of Reid’s race-focused commentary.
“It’s not my schtick. It was your schtick—but people got bored with it,” Morgan quipped.
👀 A History of Controversy
Reid’s MSNBC career was often marked by controversy—particularly her sharp criticism of Black conservatives and Republican figures. Her remarks over the years have sparked strong reactions on both sides of the aisle:
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She once referred to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas as “Uncle Clarence.”
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She claimed Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) was used as a “token” for a “patina of diversity” in the GOP.
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She dismissed Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) as “the Black guy the Republicans love to roll out.”
Critics say her commentary crossed into racial stereotyping, even while she presented herself as a champion of racial justice.
In 2021, old blog posts surfaced that included homophobic comments Reid had written years earlier. Initially, she claimed her blog had been hacked, but later admitted the posts were likely hers. The scandal drew fire from LGBTQ+ groups and media watchdogs, though MSNBC did not discipline her publicly at the time.
🎙️ Podcast Resurfaced, Sparks More Debate
During the interview, Morgan referenced a past podcast interview Reid did with Marc Lamont Hill, where she argued that being a Black woman on television often draws heightened hostility from white viewers.
“When people see a Black woman with an opinion, it angers them more,” Reid said in the podcast.
Reid accused Morgan of cherry-picking that quote to fit his narrative.
“You take an entire conversation I had with Marc Lamont Hill and pick the bits that you can racialize, because this is your schtick.”
🗣️ Two Realities, One Interview
What became clear in the explosive interview is that Morgan and Reid live in two vastly different media worlds—and have deeply contrasting views on race, media responsibility, and public accountability.
Morgan, known for his blunt and confrontational style, maintained that the public simply lost interest in Reid’s show because it was overly partisan and racially charged.
Reid, however, stood firm that The ReidOut was a necessary voice for progressive Black Americans—and that its cancellation was a reflection of broader systemic issues within the media industry.
“You want to pretend that the people who feel seen by a show like mine don’t matter. But they do,” she said.
📺 What’s Next for Joy Reid?
While Reid has yet to announce her next move post-MSNBC, her appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored may signal a pivot toward independent media or podcasting, where she can speak freely without corporate oversight. Regardless of where she lands next, her departure from cable news leaves a gap in progressive Black representation in mainstream political commentary.
Meanwhile, Morgan continues to stir the pot with viral interviews and high-profile debates—cementing his place as one of the most polarizing figures in global media.
