MSNBC President Rashida Jones reportedly recruited Ronna McDaniel to appear on the network before the former head of the Republican National Committee (RNC) was fired amid internal backlash.
NBC announced on Tuesday that McDaniel would no longer appear on the network. The announcement came days after the former RNC head was hired to be a contributor on the network, prompting backlash from NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd and others on NBC’s sister network, MSNBC.
Executives at NBC, seemingly bowing to the pressure, soon severed ties with McDaniel. Many of those executives, including the president of MSNBC, had roles in convincing McDaniel to join the network. Jones met with McDaniel via video call in March and was part of offering McDaniel a better contract to convince her to appear on MSNBC as well as NBC, according to The Washington Post.
“No organization, particularly a newsroom, can succeed unless it is cohesive and aligned. Over the last few days, it has become clear that this appointment undermines that goal,” NBC Universal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde wrote in a note to staff announcing McDaniel’s exit from the network. “I want to personally apologize to our team members who felt we let them down. While this was a collective recommendation by some members of our leadership team, I approved it and take full responsibility for it.”
Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the group that represented McDaniel during her contract negotiations with the network, reportedly dropped the former RNC head as well, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The open revolt against NBC’s decision to hire McDaniel began with Todd, the former host of “Meet the Press,” blasting the network on his former show, now moderated by Kristen Welker. McDaniel’s first appearance on NBC had been an interview with Welker, which was booked before McDaniel’s contract with NBC was announced.
“You got put into an impossible situation, booking this interview, and then all of a sudden the rug was pulled out from under you, and you find out she’s being paid to show up?” Todd said on Sunday. “It’s unfortunate for this program, but I am glad you did the best that you could.”
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“Our bosses owe you an apology for putting you in this situation,” he added. Others at the network accused McDaniel of threatening democracy over her actions in the 2020 election and criticized her support for former President Donald Trump.
News networks hiring former political officials, operatives, and others is nothing new to the media. George Stephanopoulos, former White House communications director in the Clinton administration, hosts “Good Morning America” on ABC. Kayleigh McEnany, who served Trump as White House press secretary, is now a cohost on Fox News’ “Outnumbered.” Jen Psaki, who previously performed McEnany’s role but for President Joe Biden, hosts a show on MSNBC.
RELATED: Chuck Todd Blasts His Own Network On-Air For Hiring Former RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel