NBC execs ‘throwing each other under the bus’ amid uproar over Ronna McDaniel’s hiring, claims source
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: NBC executives faced criticism this week after the network received significant backlash for the hiring and subsequent firing of former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, according to reports.
Sources familiar with the situation likened the fallout to a "battle of the execs" and described it as a "circus".
NBC executives engaged in blame game over Ronna McDaniel hiring
An insider revealed that MSNBC President Rashida Jones has been actively working to defend her reputation after being implicated as one of the main proponents of Ronna McDaniel's hiring at the network.
Carrie Budoff Brown, who oversees politics and elections coverage for NBC News and MSNBC, along with Rebecca Blumenstein, NBC News editorial president, were also implicated in McDaniel's controversial recruitment.
"They wanted this to happen", stated a network source regarding Jones, Brown, and Blumenstein's alleged involvement in the McDaniel hiring, as reported by Page Six.
"They’re responsible for all the chaos. They’re the ones who courted her and did all the vetting. They were leading the charge."
The source further noted, "Now, they’re all throwing each other under the bus", describing the situation as a chaotic "circus" where they appear to be leaking stories about one another.
In a bombshell Washington Post article published on the evening of March 27, MSNBC president Rashida Jones, Carrie Budoff Brown, and Rebecca Blumenstein were named as the executives responsible for Ronna McDaniel's hiring, as previously reported by various sources.
Sources familiar with the McDaniel-NBC controversy alleged that these three network executives actively pursued the former RNC chair to join NBC News and MSNBC after her resignation from the Republican committee earlier this month.
MSNBC president downplays role in Ronna McDaniel hiring
According to reports, Jones, Brown, and Blumenstein offered McDaniel an "improved" contract to serve as a paid contributor for both NBC News and MSNBC.
Following the publication of the Washington Post article, Jones conducted a call with MSNBC talent and staff on Thursday morning, March 28, to address the allegations.
During the call, she reportedly downplayed her involvement in McDaniel's hiring, expressing frustration with the situation and emphasizing that media reports were distracting from their work.
One source described Jones as being firm during the call, stating "She didn’t say a lot and didn’t take questions."
Another insider noted, "The only thing she said was the media’s lies are distracting from their work. It was the [firmest] she’s been on the situation".
As of now, reports say that Brown and Blumenstein have not publicly responded to the allegations regarding their alleged roles in McDaniel's hiring.
