Fired MSNBC Host Blasts the Network

Former MSNBC host Tiffany Cross opened up about the circumstances leading to her abrupt departure from the network in 2022. Cross claimed that she lost her weekend morning show because she had "drawn the ire of white conservatives" and accused MSNBC executives of intentionally making her appear "unhireable."

Cross, alongside cable news colleagues Angela Rye and Andrew Gillum, recently launched the "Native Land Pod," a new weekly podcast. Last week, Rye shared her own testimonial on what led to her departure from CNN, hinting at ties to ex-CNN anchor Chris Cuomo's alleged inappropriate texts. On Thursday's show, Cross discussed her exit from MSNBC, shedding light on the controversies that unfolded behind the scenes.

According to Cross, her rise to notoriety on MSNBC began after a segment on the Morning Joe program, where she had a heated exchange about race and the GOP with host Joe Scarborough. Allegedly labeled MSNBC's "favorite white boy," Scarborough later complained to network brass, asserting that Cross should not be the successor to Joy Reid's weekend morning slot.

Despite these challenges, Cross eventually took over Reid's AM Joy Saturday slot, debuting "The Cross Connection" in late 2020.

However, she claimed ongoing battles with the network over the content of her show, stating that MSNBC wanted her to focus solely on Donald Trump. Cross expressed a desire to cover a broader range of issues impacting marginalized communities, leading to conflicts with network executives.

The turning point, according to Cross, came when Fox News star Tucker Carlson accused her of inciting a Rwandan-style race war. Although the Anti-Defamation League condemned Carlson's claim, Cross felt unsupported by MSNBC. She revealed that network executives instructed her not to respond to Carlson and began scrutinizing her show and every written piece.

Cross continued to deliver searing commentary, even after the Carlson controversy, further aggravating network executives. Notably, she made controversial remarks about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and referred to Florida as the "dick" of America during an interview with Charlamagne tha God.

The culmination of these events led to Cross receiving a call from the president of the network, informing her that her contract would not be renewed. She expressed her disappointment at not being given the courtesy of a final show, suggesting that the intentional nature of her firing conveyed a message to the audience that they were not valued by the network.

Cross revealed that she was "never given an official reason" for the cancellation of "The Cross Connection," but she believed it was evident that she had drawn the ire of white conservatives. She criticized the network for attacking her through the media and questioned MSNBC President Rashida Jones's sudden interviews on The View and other talk shows.

At the time of Cross's exit, a network source claimed her commentary had repeatedly violated editorial standards, specifically pointing to remarks made on Charlamagne tha God's Comedy Central program. MSNBC staffers reportedly feared that the network's actions had handed a victory to Tucker Carlson, potentially encouraging him to target more personalities on the channel.

As the controversy unfolds, questions about editorial control, diversity of perspectives, and the treatment of outspoken hosts continue to loom over the media landscape. MSNBC has not yet responded to requests for comment on Cross's recent revelations.

H/T The Daily Beast