Rachel Maddow, who makes $25M a year, called out for being a ‘diva’ amid feud with MSNBC bosses

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Rachel Maddow, MSNBC’s highest-paid anchor, is facing fresh criticism over her $25 million-per-year contract, which allows her to host just one show per week.

Veteran media reporter Dylan Byers suggested that the liberal commentator’s hefty salary especially in the wake of recent network layoffs is pushing her into “full-blown diva territory.”

The prime-time anchor, who now only appears on Mondays, publicly criticized the network’s decision to cut ties with longtime host Joy Reid.

Rachel Maddow's 'absurdly misaligned salary' for working one day a week

Dylan Byers pointed out the irony of Rachel Maddow’s position, highlighting that the network spent millions to retain her while letting go of nearly 125 employees, as reported by Radar Online.

“Maddow seemed to miss an obvious irony of her critique,” he said, noting, “She gets paid $25 million a year to effectively work one day a week, an absurdly misaligned salary that allows her to comfortably shuttle between her Manhattan apartment and pre-Civil War farmhouse retreat in the Berkshires.”

Despite her status as MSNBC’s top-rated host, Maddow’s viewership averaging around 2 million per show pales in comparison to Fox News competitor Sean Hannity, who nearly doubles her numbers.

Byers also warned that Maddow’s privileged position could be short-lived in a rapidly changing media landscape. "In this brave new world, how valuable is a talent who now brings in only 2 million viewers for one hour a week, and reserves the right to occasionally fly off the handle and nuke her bosses?" he said.

What did Rachel Maddow say about Joy Reid?

"In all of the jobs I have had in all of the years I have been alive, there is no colleague for whom I have had more affection and more respect than Joy Reid," Rachel Maddow declared on her show.

"I love everything about her. I have learned so much from her. I have so much more to learn from her. I do not want to lose her as a colleague here at MSNBC, and personally, I think it is a bad mistake to let her walk out the door. It is not my call and I understand that. But that’s what I think," she said.

Maddow's impassioned defense came after MSNBC’s new president, Rebecca Kutler, reshuffled the network’s lineup, axing Reid’s 'The ReidOut' and letting go of several employees. Maddow didn’t hold back, seemingly calling out Kutler directly.

Maddow didn’t hold back on her show, criticizing the network during Monday’s broadcast and describing Reid’s firing as "very, very, very hard to take."

Maddow, who played a key role in the swift hiring and firing of former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel, kept up her criticism of network leadership.

Seemingly directing her remarks at Kutler, she stated, "We want to grow and succeed and reach more people than ever and be resilient and stay here forever. I also believe that the way to get there is by treating people well, finding good people, good colleagues, doing good work with them, and then having their back. That we could do a lot better."

Dylan Byers’ take on Rachel Maddow's salary sparks heated debate

Journalist Dylan Byers has ignited a debate over Rachel Maddow’s substantial salary, drawing mixed reactions from the public. 

One user commented, “Yeah, making a gazillion while working one day a week. I’ll put it in the people-in-glass-houses category.”

Another added, “If Maddow wanted to save her staff, she could have taken a pay cut.”

Some reactions also touched on network decisions, with one person writing, “She basically accused her bosses of racism...yet Steele, Simone, and Ms Mendoza are taking Joy’s place. So...what's her explanation???”

"Many were not fans of Joy Reid. Not a political issue. Simple broadcast decision. And, certainly not a moment for any kind of flare. Maddow hurts herself by getting into it. So much to focus on in our democracy now," a user said.

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