Keith Olbermann accuses MSNBC of being 'racist' after Joy Reid's ouster: 'We need people like her'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann accused MSNBC of being "racist" after anchor Joy Reid's ouster from the network on Sunday, February 23.

The political commentator claimed that only four women of color have solo-hosted shows for the cable news networks, and all of them were kicked to the curb, the Independent reported.

Reid's show 'The Reidout' was canceled by the network amid a programming shakeup. In the final episode, she shared her love for her audience and her team in her final message, according to an Instagram post.

Keith Olbermann accuses MSNBC of being 'racist' for firing Joy Reid

During the recent episode of 'Countdown with Keith Olbermann', the podcast host slammed his former employers for firing Joy Reid. He claimed that the left-leaning channel was sidelining women of color for "salespeople" who will do anything, per the outlet. 

In his podcast, Olbermann continued, "MSNBC fired Joy Reid, and yes it is racist and maybe worse. Yes, it is designed to keep out people who might think differently."

"And it is designed to reward professional political salespeople like ex-party chairmen and former press secretaries who will do what they are told by their bosses," he added.

The former MSNBC host further said, "But most of all, since they also fired Alex Wagner as they fired Joy Reid, at least The New York Times says this, it means that four women of color have solo hosted prominent shows on MSNBC, and all four of them have now been fired."

Apart from Reid, MSNBC also axed weekend shows hosted by progressive Black female hosts Melissa Harris-Perry and Tiffany Cross, per the outlet. 

Continuing to speak on the subject, Olbermann added, "And if anybody on television – besides her counterparts who are all on Fox – if anybody is a salesperson as opposed to an analyst or a commentator, it’s Jen Psaki."

"These people are salespersons. Salespersons, doctrinaire, and often it’s doctrinaire bulls**t. If you have been a salesperson, a press secretary for a politician these days, you have – I’m sorry – lied," he remarked.

Keith Olbermann says MSNBC gave up on Joy Reid after backlash from conservatives

During the podcast, Keith Olbermann also pointed out that Joy Reid, Harris-Perry, and Cross sparked controversy and angered the conservative media machine.

He added that MSNBC gave up to the outrage from the right over their commentary rather than staying with their anchors, according to the Independent.

He stated, "Hmm, Melissa Harris, Perry, Tiffany Cross, Joy Reid, Alex Wagner. Four women – what did they have in common? Well, let’s see, they all had their own shows – solo hosts on MSNBC, and they were all women of color, and they’ve all been fired."

However, Olbermann acknowledged that the hosts replacing Reid are also people of color, and the network is looking to bring on other Black hosts. He also suggested that those picks are all "safe" and won’t be a reason to worry.

"Don’t we want this? Won’t this make it easier to sell this company when we want to? Won’t it make it easier the next time Trump threatens NBC and MSNBC for us to say, but we fired Joy Reid," he stated.

Olbermann declared, "We need a strong, vibrant, loud, fearless MSNBC and not The View – forgive me – at seven o'clock every night. We need people like Joy Reid."

"Even if you sit there and go, I’m not watching that; it’s important that she’s there for the people who want to identify with somebody who looks like Joy Reid and say that woman is out here trying to argue my point," he further added.