Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann launched a tirade against his former network on Monday, claiming that the departure of The ReidOut host Joy Reid is part of a “racist purge” at the struggling cable news channel.
BREAKING: MSNBC racist purge escalates. Ayman Mohyeldin, Katie Phang and Jonathan Capehart ousted along with Joy Reid and Alex Wagner https://t.co/vgGlgUFhGI
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 24, 2025
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News broke on Sunday that this week would be Reid’s last on MSNBC.
The network, which has suffered from declining ratings, is reportedly undergoing a reshuffle of its talent lineup.
Olbermann, however, called it “a confused, brutal, racist purge at MSNBC it’s like they’re being run by Elon Musk.”
It is such a confused, brutal, racist purge at MSNBC it’s like they’re being run by Elon Musk
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 24, 2025
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Olbermann specifically called on MSNBC’s top white hosts—Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O’Donnell, and Chris Hayes—to risk their careers by condemning what he sees as an unjust move by the network.
“Dear @maddow, If you go on the air tonight – or at minimum go on without condemning the overt racism of the people who give you $25 million a year – you are complicit. Same for you [O’Donnell] and [Hayes],” Olbermann tweeted.
“Protest, or you are all Joe Scarborough.”
Dear @maddow
If you go on the air tonight – or at minimum go on without condemning the overt racism of the people who give you $25 million a year – you are complicit
Same for you @Lawrence and @chrislhayes
Protest, or you are all Joe Scarborough.
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) February 24, 2025
Olbermann’s defense of Reid comes despite MSNBC’s poor ratings performance.
The network posted its worst January ratings ever earlier this year. On February 19, an episode of Gold Rush on Discovery Channel outperformed Reid’s program.
On January 6—typically a major day for MSNBC’s audience—The ReidOut drew just 708,000 viewers, a number lower than reality shows like Swamp People on the History Channel.
Despite the network’s overall struggles, Olbermann claimed that MSNBC “didn’t have a Joy Reid problem.” Instead, he argued that the network’s real issue is Morning Joe host Joe Scarborough.
“Until he is fired, MSNBC will not recover. Shuffling tepid shows in and out does nothing,” Olbermann wrote on Sunday night.
MSNBC has already announced its plans to fill Reid’s vacancy, bringing in new hosts from diverse backgrounds. The network’s revised lineup includes:
- Symone Sanders, former spokeswoman for Vice President Kamala Harris
- Michael Steele, former RNC chairman and frequent Trump critic
- Alicia Menendez, daughter of embattled Sen. Bob Menendez, whose family has Cuban heritage
Despite these changes, Olbermann continues to insist that the network is engaging in a “purge” rather than an attempt to restructure its failing programming.
Olbermann’s latest online rant follows his previous claim in December that he was leaving X for good.
However, he remains active on the platform, frequently posting inflammatory remarks and political commentary.
As MSNBC continues to reshuffle its lineup in an effort to regain viewership, Olbermann’s criticism raises questions about whether his outrage is genuine or simply another attempt to promote his podcast.
Whether or not his demands for MSNBC’s top hosts to protest will gain traction remains to be seen.
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