Opinion MSNBC's cancellation of Tiffany Cross sends a chilling signal

[Judi Lynn]

By Karen Attiah
Columnist

December 2, 2022 at 3:10 p.m. EST

About a month ago, I was having a chat with a Black editor. We got around to talking about our experiences. As the conversation went on, we agreed that we definitely shared one thing as Black people doing public discourse work: precariousness.

To be a Black public figure who chooses to be honest about white supremacy in this country is dangerous business. And there is no starker example of that than Tiffany Cross — whose show, “The Cross Connection,” was canceled last month by MSNBC, and whose contract with the network wasn’t renewed.

Cross, a former D.C. bureau chief for BET Networks and an associate producer for CNN, was named host of “The Cross Connection” in late 2020. The show aired Saturday mornings and was one of the higher-rated weekend political shows for the network. It was also one of the few shows left on a major news network that centered the voices of Black people and others of color. Cross focused on matters domestic and international, doing shows, for instance, on global diaspora movements.

She was unapologetic about discussing white supremacy and did not hold back on matters of race. This, of course, drew the ire of the right-wing chattering class, who increasingly singled her out. In October, after Cross (rightly) noted how White men dominate the NFL’s coaching and ownership ranks, Megyn Kelly called her a “dumbass” and “the most racist person on television.” Later that month, Fox News’s Tucker Carlson went on a 10-minute tirade against Cross and MSNBC, accusing Cross of stoking hatred against White people, and comparing her show to the radio broadcasts that led to the Rwandan genocide.

More:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/12/02/msnbc-tiffany-cross-connection-cancellation/

[Deuxcents]

1. So that's what happened.

Heard bits n pieces n never understood why she suddenly was gone. Why did the network cave n not support her?

[dchill]

2. Less than wonderful to find out that MSNBC management...

...is more responsive to the wishes and peeves of Megyn and Tucker than their own audience. Fingers on the pulse, so to speak.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. My thoughts, exactly.

Never a good look to be shutting down the voices of minorities at a time when white supremacists are finding ways to make themselves heard above the mainstream.

[brush]

4. I was sorry to see Tiffany Cross' show go. I watched...

Last edited Sat Dec 3, 2022, 01:26 AM - Edit history (1)

it regularly. IIRC though, her show was cancelled by something she said on another show..."The Breakfast Club" with Charlamagne Da God and other hosts. She said "Florida literally looks like the dick of the country, so let's get rid of Florida."

And a little laters she said,
"Seriously, let's castrate Florida..."

She was kinda prodded to say that last part by Charlamagne Da God. That was bad judgment as right wing long knives were out to get her and that casually tossed off remark was too castration-adjacent to DeSantis. I think she got a little carried away on the show. She probably should've said "penis" too instead of dick.

Sorry to see her go.

[NoMoreRepugs]

6. Yep DuhhSantis is a little dick.

[Beakybird]

8. This is fireable. You need to be circumspect in journalism - and more so if you're Afro American..

So unfortunate though.

[brush]

9. Yes. We have to be careful and can't afford to get carried away with our words...

even if the sentiment is not that objectionable.

[moniss]

10. However this

really just proves the point of the OP. MSNBC allowed for commentators who were old white men to say all kinds of racist, sexist, white supremacy supporting things and still keep their jobs or still being brought on as "analysts" or "commentators". Patrick Buchanan, Chris Matthews, Michael Savage and Don Imus are just a few of the names who were allowed to go on and on for years with their comments before they faced termination. Their comments were way worse than anything Cross said.

[brush]

11. Agreed. But that is not news to us political junkies.

We know that. Tiffany has to know all that too. IMO she just got a bit carried away.

[tulipsandroses]

16. Really? Never mind that MSNBC bosses wanted her to change how

she addressed white supremacists? I’m sure that had nothing to do with it. Just as Jemele Hill. Melissa Murray. My guess is MSNBC bowed to pressure and sacrificed Ms. Cross.
Joy Reid is already established. They were not going to get rid of her. Tiffany was the sacrifice they made when confronted about 2 black women calling out white supremacy.

I am willing to bet that if Joy Reid had made that same comment, she would not have been fired. Matter of fact when old homophobic posts were unearthed, MSNBC stood by her.

Nah, this was bigger than repeating an old ass joke about Florida looking like a penis.

And as others have pointed out, they have stood by men and their mishaps. Even Lawrence O’Donnell that I adore was on tape acting a damn fool cussing and berating staff.

If black women are being held to some “ higher standard” . Call it what it is, racism. It’s not black women that need to change.

[brush]

17. I'm not disagreeing with you. We know the political...

realities of what goes on in network TV, who stays, who goes because of what's said, who's a white male and mostly untouchable unless they rape someone like Matt Lauer did.

It is not news to us political junkies and should not have been to Ms Cross. I'm guessing that she had to have at least a cursory knowledge of a similar silencing that happened to Melissa Harris Perry, one of her and Joy Reid's predecessors on Saturday morning political TV. Hosts of color have to be careful and aware that some watch for an opening to get rid of them

Again, sorry to see her show get cancelled.

[Yoyoyo77]

22. The day to day operational head of ops at MSNBC is a black woman.

She worked her way up the ladder at NBC. I am sure she knew that she had a more limited degree of latitude in having the back of an employee who looked to be in an pissing ( sorry I looked for other ways to say an insult battle, couldn't find any) match with a group of folks who would definitely make a national spectacle of it. I think a white boss might have had the trust of upper management to make a decision short of of termination.

[brush]

23. Good observation. You're probably right.

[Yoyoyo77]

24. Also she was just promoted a year or two ago, so i think she would have less leverage in the room.

[tulipsandroses]

27. Ms Cross has a 20 year history in journalism

I don’t think this was a surprise to her. She’s worked at several other media companies, including CNN and FOX. She chose to be her authentic self. I am glad she did not bow to pressure. I hope she does something similar to Roland Martin. Create her own grassroots network.

[grantcart]

13. She is an opinion personality not a news host personality

Besides the willingness to completely dismiss Florida she also gave the opinion that there is no way to separate the Republican Party from Right Wing Extremism. That is an opinion but it isn't the kind of in depth nuanced analysis that you expect from a cable news host. She was miscast from the start. She never should have appeared on the other shows at all at least in giving personal opinions.


Her overall viewership was basically flat. It increased before the election but after it went back to the 500
k level that she had started on.

The big increase in 19-49 viewership is true in a percentage increase but only because it started at a very low level.

An increase from 26K viewers to 52K is a big percentage but an incredibly low number for a national broadcast. She woud have been the 17th ranked show out of MSNBC 20 shows.

[Hassler]

5. Corporate cable is never on our side. Dumped cable 20 years ago and

Haven't looked back.

[3Hotdogs]

7. Wish they'd do the same for Joe Scar.

Last edited Sat Dec 3, 2022, 08:27 AM - Edit history (1)

[Beakybird]

12. Joe Scarborough could have said, probably has said, stuff this offensive and got away with it.

[The_Casual_Observer]

14. Trump and other republicans are fair game over there by policy however

Beyond that rocking the boat about billionaire NFL franchise owners and the system of oppression in general is off limits.

[ShazzieB]

20. Very true, about Trump and the Republicans

I've seen Trump, McConnell, Cruz, Graham, Hawley, MTG, Boebert, Cawthorne (back when he still mattered), Gaetz, McCarthy, and many, many, many other Repukes ripped new @$$holes by various MSNBC personalities of all demographics too many times to count!

I have no knowledge either way about any of the other things you mention, but I can definitely arrest to the above.

[Ford_Prefect]

15. I took it as one more step towards muzzling voices who'd offend the expected new powers in Congress.

It seems the MSM were premature in that judgement, no?

[yankee87]

18. Unfortunately true

First off, I’m a Boomer, white CIS man, so I know I get breaks in life. I can’t imagine having to weave that fine line of a minority journalist. And let’s face it, anyone who talks about white privilege is going to be vilified. Also, other than a few shows, MSNBC is right wing.

[ShazzieB]

21. None of the shows I watch on MSNBC are RW.

Granted, there are only certain shows that I watch regularly, all of which are on in the evening, but I will vouch for those shows.

[calimary]

25. Probably the same ones I watch. Still pissed about Maddow, though.

VERY pissed.

Her Monday-only arrangement SUCKS.

ONE day a week? Shit, Johnny Carson didn’t even go that far, and he was HUGE. Carson had the “Tonight Show” for about 30 years, three times as long as Maddow’s had hers, and he was responsible for about 25% of all NBC’s annual revenues. He eventually took Mondays off, but still hosted Tuesday through Friday. But Rachel gets FOUR days off every week, and tosses us Mondays-only. W. T. F.

Absolutely Positively SUCKS.

Not the fan I used to be.

[Solly Mack]

19. K&R

[onetexan]

26. Much ado about nothing. She's known to be sharp tongued & it's come back to bite her