Over the weekend, news broke that MSNBC had canceled “The ReidOut,” hosted by prominent journalist Joy Reid, sparking widespread backlash, especially from her substantial fanbase and supporters who viewed her show as an essential platform for strong Black voices in mainstream media.

Reid, known for her incisive commentary and vigorous advocacy on behalf of marginalized communities, hosted the show for five years after previously anchoring weekend and daytime slots, marking her fourth distinct program with MSNBC.

On Saturday, initial rumors of Reid’s departure spread quickly, prompting outrage online, particularly among African American communities and female activists who saw Reid’s cancellation as an erasure of Black and women’s voices in mainstream media.

The following day, mainstream outlets including Variety and The New York Times confirmed that MSNBC would indeed end the show, with her primetime slot set to be filled by the network’s weekend panel featuring Michael Steele, Symone Sanders, and Alicia Menendez.

The cancellation sparked significant mobilization online, resulting in a major digital protest event titled “Win With Black Women and Win With Black Men,” which drew an audience of over 10,000 people via Zoom and approximately 14,000 live viewers on YouTube.

Activists leveraged this event to voice their frustration and call attention to what they considered a systematic silencing of prominent Black voices within mainstream media.

Further fueling controversy, MSNBC’s decision appears part of a broader strategic shift under new president Rebecca Cutler, formerly of CNN, who succeeded Rashida Jones.

Cutler’s leadership coincides with broader structural changes at MSNBC’s parent company Comcast, which recently announced a corporate restructuring involving the creation of a publicly traded spin-off entity called “SpinCo.”

This entity would include channels such as CNBC, USA Network, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, Syfy, and Golf Channel, alongside digital properties like Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango. NBC itself remains directly under Comcast.

This broader corporate realignment, under the leadership of incoming CEO Mark Lazarus, may significantly influence MSNBC’s programming decisions, as the network strategically repositions itself in preparation for potential ownership changes, including speculative interest from figures such as billionaire Elon Musk.

Reid’s exit also recalls previous departures of prominent African American hosts from MSNBC. Tiffany Cross lost her weekend show in December 2023, while Melissa Harris-Perry and Karen Finney experienced similar fates years earlier.

Harris-Perry notably exited amid controversy over editorial autonomy, specifically regarding coverage of Donald Trump.

Veteran journalist Roland Martin, owner of the Black Star Network, addressed the broader implications of Reid’s cancellation.

Martin highlighted a critical distinction between ownership, influence, and leverage, using basketball icon Michael Jordan’s career as an illustrative example. Despite Jordan’s considerable influence and leverage in the NBA, real power resided with the team owners.

Martin emphasized that African American media personalities often have significant visibility and influence but rarely wield actual decision-making power because they typically don’t own the platforms they appear on.

Martin pointedly noted how Michael Jordan himself was initially perceived as the most powerful basketball player due to his popularity and marketability, but ultimately faced abrupt dismissal from the Washington Wizards’ leadership because he did not have ownership power.

Jordan only acquired true power later when he became the majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets.

Martin underscored that genuine empowerment arises from ownership, as owners set terms, dictate content, and determine who has a voice.

This ownership theme echoed through Martin’s reflection on his own experiences at CNN and TV One, underscoring that he strategically leveraged the expiration of mainstream media positions to launch independent, Black-owned media ventures like the Black Star Network.

Highlighting Tyler Perry’s powerful BET speech from 2019, Martin reinforced that genuine power and impact come from owning the platforms through which one’s voice is amplified, a sentiment he passionately conveyed to encourage Joy Reid and other Black journalists.

Martin stressed that relying solely on mainstream platforms—run predominantly by white executives—often subjects African American voices to editorial constraints, corporate whims, and potential silencing.

He emphasized that Black media ownership guarantees true autonomy and offers an enduring platform for authentic, unrestricted dialogue on critical community issues.

As Martin put it succinctly, “Owners have power, not just leverage or influence.” His advice for Reid—and other African American media professionals experiencing similar crossroads—was clear: seize the opportunity to build independently and maintain autonomy.

Reid’s supporters continue to express fervent support, using hashtags and urging viewers to protest MSNBC by supporting Reid’s final show and subsequently boycotting the network, symbolically “turning the TV off and turning on Black media.”

In closing, Martin’s passionate address underscored a larger call to action beyond supporting Joy Reid alone.

He emphasized investing in and prioritizing Black-owned media infrastructures—platforms resilient enough to withstand the capricious decisions of corporate-owned entities.

As Reid transitions to her next chapter, possibly announcing plans for a podcast, daily digital show, or other independent media efforts, Martin underscored an empowering truth: her voice, her brand, and her influence transcend any single network or corporate platform.

The community response to Reid’s cancellation is a powerful reminder of the collective strength of African American voices and the critical necessity for self-reliant Black media platforms.

In essence, Martin’s call to action encourages the Black community to not only support Reid and others during periods of professional transition but to collectively cultivate and sustain spaces where their voices will always matter—and can never be silenced by external corporate interests.