Fact Check: Did Rachel Maddow break down in tears on air over 'Elon Musk buying MSNBC' memes?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A viral video of MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow supposedly breaking down while being on air has taken social media by storm. The clip sparked a lot of chatter and speculation online, with many claiming she was crying after tech billionaire Elon Musk shared a cheeky meme about buying MSNBC.

The drama began when Musk posted a meme on his X platform, jokingly suggesting he might buy the news network. Alongside the meme, he wrote, "And lead us not into temptation..."

The image featured a priest seemingly battling temptation as he sat next to a provocatively dressed woman—an apparent metaphor for Musk resisting the urge to purchase MSNBC.

Exploring the context behind the video

The viral video in question followed shortly after. It showed MSNBC host Rachel Maddow visibly emotional as the meme was displayed on-screen. One user posted the clip, gleefully writing, "Watching Rachel Maddow freak out over Elon Musk posting memes about buying MSNBC made my morning."

Many social media users responded to the clip, offering their own humorous takes mocking the MSNBC star.

"She’s crying because she knows her cash cow is coming to an end," one person posted on X.

"How come every time this lady [is] on my timeline she crying?" another wondered.

"Some of the worst acting I’ve ever seen," read one comment.

"Oh ..and she makes $20 million a year for this content?" someone else asked.

"At the same time, I want to see the legacy media go down in flames. I also would like to watch TV again!!! Make TV great again," another chimed in.

Fact check: The truth behind Rachel Maddow's viral clip

Despite the laughs and playful jabs, the video is far from what it seems. The clip of Rachel Maddow breaking down was heavily edited and the original footage dates back to 2018 when the MSNBC anchor became emotional while reporting on the separation of migrant children from their parents at the US-Mexico border.

The viral video on X now has a community note attached to add the above context for viewers on the platform.

The meme Musk shared, on the other hand, had nothing to do with Maddow crying. The text overlay on the priest read, "Elon Musk trying not to buy" with MSNBC’s logo placed over the woman’s pert derriere.

It's worth noting that the meme surfaced amid rumors that Comcast, MSNBC’s parent company, is considering spinning off its cable channels into a new business entity dubbed SpinCo.

The fallout at MSNBC: Rachel Maddow's pay cut and tanking ratings

While the viral video turned out to be fake, MSNBC is indeed navigating stormy waters. Reports recently revealed that Maddow’s salary was slashed by $5 million, bringing her new deal to $25 million annually. This pay cut comes as Comcast struggles to address declining viewership and plans to spin off its cable channels by 2025.

An insider told The Ankler, “This is a difficult time, and they needed to keep her. No one else can do what she does. You can’t build a brand like it overnight.”

Even with the pay cut, Maddow will continue hosting her one-day-a-week gig on Monday nights, with the network planning to utilize her for podcasts, documentaries, and as a “secret weapon” during major breaking news events.

But the challenges don’t stop there. Maddow’s network has faced a steep 54% ratings drop since President-elect Donald Trump's win over Kamala Harris, leaving MSNBC’s anti-Trump audience in shock.

“We were so Harris propaganda that when she lost, viewers were shocked,” one on-air commentator admitted to the Ankler. “It turned into one giant circle j–k and echo chamber. If MSNBC wants to be of service to its viewers, they can’t keep them in fantasy land.”

MSNBC is now grappling with how to stay relevant in a post-election media landscape. According to insiders, producers are trying to balance maintaining their liberal base while avoiding becoming an “echo chamber.” One source described the network’s predicament as trying to remain “the only safe space for a liberal TV audience.”