Latest news with #KeithOlbermann
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
People Are Pointing Out This 1 Huge Reason It's So Hypocritical Of Megyn Kelly To Call Stephen Colbert A "Failure"
Radio host and podcaster Megyn Kelly tried to take a victory lap after the announcement last week that Stephen Colbert's Late Show would be canceled by CBS after 10 years on the air and despite it being the highest-rated show in its time slot. But given her own history, it didn't go well. Related: Kelly said on her show Friday that Colbert took The Late Show ― which was started by David Letterman ― and 'completely drove it into the ground.' 'He desperately wanted to be Keith Olbermann,' she said. 'And guess what? Keith Olbermann is a failure, and now so are you, Stephen Colbert.' Kelly was a longtime host at Fox News, where she drew the ire of then-candidate Donald Trump during a Republican debate in 2015. 'You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes,' Trump infamously complained at the time. 'Blood was coming out of her — wherever.' She later left Fox and signed a three-year $69 million deal with NBC, which included a Sunday night news magazine show and a third hour of the Today show called Megyn Kelly Today. Related: But she struggled in the ratings, and was taken off the air after she defended the use of blackface as part of Halloween costumes. She apologized, but the show was canceled days later after a little more than a year on the air. NBC reportedly paid out her full contract. After she left, the third hour of the Today show jumped in the ratings by 18%, NBC News reported at the time. Related: The feed on X (formerly Twitter) for Kelly's show posted her comments about Colbert ― and Kelly's critics fired back with some reminders of her own past: Hmm. Let me get this right. @StephenAtHome @colbertlateshow had a successful 10-year run on CBS. @megynkelly failed MASSIVELY on NBC. In fact, she will go down as one of the biggest failures in media history. Didn't last 2 years, and they had to pay her $60M-plus. Be quiet, Megyn — rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) July 20, 2025 @rolandsmartin/X / Via You might want to lighten up on the 'cautionary tale of failure' and do some self reflection before calling anyone else out. — Dawn Young-McDaniel❌👑 (@justdawn_) July 20, 2025 @justdawn_/x / Via It is one of the most amazing acts of memory-holing in media history that Kelly pretends that she didn't sell out to NBC after Trump's first election (using her feud with him & saying she was apolitical), & then after she was fired there slowly became a leading MAGA influencer.😂 — John Ziegler (@Zigmanfreud) July 21, 2025 @Zigmanfreud/X / Via What happened when you went to NBC? — Mark Banker (@themarkbanker) July 20, 2025 @themarkbanker/X / Via Alright, Megyn, let me lay it on the line for ya. You call Stephen Colbert .@StephenAtHome being a failure? Here's the score: Colbert's been the undisputed heavyweight champ of late-night TV for years. He's been number one in total viewers and the key 18-49 demographic for… — Human☮🇺🇸🇺🇦🇺🇸🌊 (@4HumanUnity) July 20, 2025 @4HumanUnity/X / Via Related: If being fired/cancelled was the barometer for failure, someone should get Meg a mirror. — Mike Therien (@miketherien) July 20, 2025 @miketherien/X / Via Megyn, who had to crawl back into Trump's good graces after he insulted and humiliated her, calling someone else a failure? — Rich (@RealRichWilkins) July 21, 2025 @RealRichWilkins/X / Via Megyn who? LOL The lack of self-awareness among this crowd is really something else. Colbert still has a hit show. As for Megyn… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ — John Aravosis 🇺🇸🇬🇷🏳️🌈 (@aravosis) July 21, 2025 @aravosis/X / Via Like if Kid Rock said Springsteen's a failure. — Chuck Throckmorton (@ChuckThrock) July 20, 2025 @ChuckThrock/X / Via Speaking of failures, what happened to Megyn at NBC? — Mallory (@mallsta) July 20, 2025 @mallsta/X / Via This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in In the News: Also in In the News: Also in In the News:
Daily Mail
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Famously woke TV star's very surprising take on Steven Colbert's firing after star was axed over losing $40m a year
Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann has cast doubt on theories that CBS' decision to cancel 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' was politically motivated, due to the comic still having ten months left on the air. 'Also, no, I'm sorry, it does not fit the narrative, but Stephen Colbert was not fired because of Trump,' Olbermann, more than a decade after his own MSNBC ouster, said in a video posted to both X and Bluesky late Sunday. 'Do not give Trump credit for that,' he added. 'They may make it look like it is to please Trump but the economic factors are far more significant than anything else,' the ex-Countdown with Keith Olbermann anchor explained. He said there was 'one unanswerable reason' that proved Colbert was not fired because of the conservative and CBS parent Paramount's long-in-limbo sale to Skydance Media that requires federal approval. 'We've seen this before, you've just forgotten that it happened,' Olbermann, 66, added - alluding to MSNBC's cancellation of Phil Donahue's 'Donahue' in 2002 for what ended up being low viewership. At the time, however, an internal memo leaked to the press stating execs' desire for Donahue to be fired for his opposition to the the US invasion of Iraq, fueling speculation the newsman's firing was for other reasons. Drawing parallels that appeared to suggest CBS is playing a PR game, Olbermann, 66, pointed to Colbert's show's astonishing lack of profitability. THANKS, TRUMP! THE TRUMPSTEIN SCANDAL will now never die - because you sued Rupert, you moron And, sorry, no, there's one inarguable fact that proves Colbert WASN'T cancelled to appease Trump GET THE NEW COUNTDOWN PODCAST: — Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) July 21, 2025 It was pegged this past Friday as being somewhere in the ballpark of negative $40million annually by Puck journalist Matthew Belloni, after ten years on the air. 'If they are silencing him, why have they decided to keep him on TV for the next ten months?' Olbermann asked on the Monday edition of his podcast, which bears the same name as his old MSNBC show that aired from 2003 to 2011. 'This is the Phil Donahue cancellation all over again. It works to CBS's corporate advantage to make it look like they are sucking up to the psycho,' he continued, suggesting C-Suiters back then purposely leaked the correspondence at a time where opposition to the budding was was not very popular. 'Sorry. This is the least of the reasons,' Olbermann added, putting to bed what he put as 'the almost-universally accepted premise that CBS cancelled Stephen Colbert solely to appease Trump.' 'I understand this busts the narrative and reduces our ability to suffer as martyrs,' he said Monday. 'Sorry. That's not what happened here,' he said in a separate Twitter post over the weekend. 'If it had, they wouldn't be keeping him on until next MAY.' Olbermann offered his opinion as politicians like Senator Elizabeth Warren continue to question whether CBS's decision to cancel 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ' was at all linked to Paramount Global's merger with Skydance Media Colbert, 61, is one the most prominent of critics of the conservative, even amongst a crowded field of left-leaning late night hosts. He is also at the top of that heap ratings-wise, making his ouster seemingly sudden - and to some, uncalled for. The fact he took a swipe at his Paramount bosses on-air - for accepting what he presented as a 'big fat bribe' from the administration - just days ago further fueled the speculation. The parties reached a $16 million settlement in a suit filed by Trump earlier this month - a sum only slightly more than the $15 million Colbert is said to earn annually. In his piece for Puck Belloni outlined how The Late Show - which costs $100m a year to produce - has seen its advertiser revenue slump drastically even in the last three years, making it harder to pull Colbert's show out of the red. Late night shows in general have slumped in profitability as viewers shun the format in favor of streaming services or other means of media. Colbert was reported to be 'not angry, actually' about news of his cancelation, Puck reported - revealing how the host was chatting with his staff in a 'matter-of-fact' way before Thursday's show, shortly after finding out himself. Moreover, Paramount co-C.E.O. George Cheeks was reportedly the one to pull the trigger on the cancellation - not Skydance CEO David Ellison or the former NBCU exec to serve as the new company's CEO once the merger is finished, Jeff Shell. Trump, meanwhile, celebrated the news of the show's cancellation last week as it spread, furthering the idea he played a part. 'Sorry. That's not what happened here,' Olbermann wrote in a separate Twitter post over the weekend. 'If it had, they wouldn't be keeping him on until next MAY' 'I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings," he wrote in a Friday Truth Social post. 'I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert.' Colbert holds the top spot in his hour, with an average of 2.417 million across 41 first-run episodes. Colbert took over as host in September 2015, after Letterman launched the program in 1993. Second-best Jimmy Kimmel Live! takes in an average of 1.772 million viewers, for reference. As for Olbermann, he left MSNBC in 2011, months after a scandal that saw him suspended for donating money to Democratic candidates who would go on to appear on his show. The following January, Olbermann announced his departure from the network, which said in a statement that it had ended its contract with Olbermann. No further explanation was offered.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Riley Gaines hits back at Lia Thomas and Keith Olbermann after Penn bows to Trump in transgender battle
Conservative commentator Riley Gaines snapped back at former competitor Lia Thomas and ex-ESPN star Keith Olbermann after the University of Pennsylvania bowed to President Donald Trump. On Tuesday, Penn updated its athletic record books in line with the NCAA's adopted policies of transgender athletes, which include three marks set by Thomas during the 2021-22 season. The move to add asterisks to Thomas' records comes after the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced it reached an agreement with the school over Title IX violations related to Thomas' participation. Those updated records also come as Trump has called on the NCAA to ban biological men, who identify as transgender, from competing in women's sports. Gaines, who competed against Thomas, has built her career off the fame she gained from dissenting to Thomas' participation. Olbermann wanted to be the first to congratulate Gaines, in his own way, after the changes were made. 'Wanted to congratulate Whiny Gaines on now being able to say she finished tied for FOURTH not tied for FIFTH in the Lia Thomas race,' Olbermann said on X. Thomas won a national championship in the 200-meter freestyle in 2022. Gaines tied for fifth in that race. 'Thank you! And while you're keeping track, make sure to congratulate Emma Weyant, the right National Champ in the 500 freestyle, too,' Gaines replied. '(If you're insinuating 5th in the nation is bad, what do you call a man who ranks 462nd nationally in the men's category?)' Thomas became the first openly transgender NCAA champion with the victory and has become the face of the discussion about whether biological men should compete in women's sports. Earlier this year, a Quakers' statement said the school and athletic department will comply with the NCAA's new policies. 'The University will not – on the basis of sex – exclude female students from participation in, deny female students the benefits of, or subject female students to discrimination under, any athletics programs,' a Penn statement read. 'In addition, in providing to female student-athletes intimate facilities such as locker rooms and bathrooms in connection with Penn Athletics, such facilities shall be strictly separated on the basis of sex and comparably provided to each sex.' Gaines has garnered recognition from those who approve of the ban of transgender athletes in women's sports from the decision to add asterisks to Thomas' records. The win for Gaines comes less than a month after she was in a feud with Simone Biles over the subject, which also played out on social media.
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Sen. Lindsey Graham slammed for ‘game on' tweet after Israel bombs Iran
South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is facing widespread criticism for a tweet he posted following the Israeli strikes on Iran. 'Game on. Pray for Israel,' he wrote on Thursday night. Israel struck bases and nuclear sites in an attack more severe than previous attacks on Iran, with President Donald Trump pushing the country to agree to fresh restrictions on its nuclear program as additional strikes could be 'more brutal.' 'Game? Your soul is lost,' said broadcaster Keith Olbermann in response. 'I have no doubt that you are incredibly turned on right now, Senator. Iranians, who are caught in this mess, deserve your prayers too but I know we are just an afterthought. You're a disgrace,' said journalist Yashar Ali. 'Game? You're disgusting,' Owen Shroyer added. Israel killed a number of Iran's security chiefs, dealing a severe blow to the country's chain of command. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the attack as a way to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, which is seen as an existential threat by the Israelis. 'A game? You piece of s***,' wrestling reporter Sean Ross Sapp wrote to Graham. Meghan McCain, the daughter of the late Arizona Senator John McCain, whom Graham admired, added to the criticism, writing, 'It's not a f****** game Lindsey.' 'It isn't a game, Senator. You confirmed a talkshow host SecDef who texts strike plans on unsecured apps,' said Heath Mayo, the founder of the conservative group Principles First. 'You supported a President who thinks Ukraine caused Putin's invasion. You should pray for all of us. We're going to need all the help we can get with amateurs in charge.' 'It's not a game, dip****,' attorney Ron Filipkowski added. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman called for Israel to continue 'wiping out Iranian leadership.' 'Our commitment to Israel must be absolute and I fully support this attack,' he wrote on X late on Thursday. 'Keep wiping out Iranian leadership and the nuclear personnel. We must provide whatever is necessary—military, intelligence, weaponry—to fully back Israel in striking Iran.' While writer Tim Shorrock called Fetterman 'The drooling War Maniac from Pennsylvania,' singer/songwriter John Ondrasik called the senator 'a Lion in a sea of Lemmings' and former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said Fetterman 'is amazing.' 'His support of Israel used to be standard for almost every D in Washington. Now he's a lonely voice, but he remains an amazingly powerful and inspiring voice,' he added.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Joy Reid: How MSNBC Tried to Silence Me Before Firing
MSNBC tried to stop Joy Reid from expressing herself on social media before ultimately firing her from its primetime lineup. Her MSNBC bosses were 'horrified' by the way she used social media platforms like Twitter, she told Katie Couric on her new podcast Monday. 'And anytime I would tweet anything, I would get calls—I would get, 'Please get off Twitter, we hate it.'' 'They just don't like that it pulls their talent and their reporters out of their control because now you're not running what you're tweeting through Standards and Practices,' Reid continued. 'It's giving your personality directly to the audience, which they don't like because it's no longer managed and curated by them.' Reid is gearing up to launch her YouTube show and podcast 'The Joy Reid Show' on June 9, but she got candid about her time at MSNBC a week in advance during a preview conversation with Couric, which she also uploaded to YouTube after hosting the livestream on her website. Her comments come after MSNBC canceled Reid's primetime show The ReidOut without explanation in February, as part of a network shakeup following Donald Trump's election win that resulted in the exodus of several of the network's non-white anchors. Former MSNBC host Keith Olbermann characterized the moves as 'an MSNBC purge so brutally racist it makes you think it was done by [Elon] Musk.' Reid opened up about The ReidOut's end when Couric asked her what 'really happened' on Monday. 'I've been asked this so many times,' she told Couric. 'And people think that I'm just saying it to B.S., but I'm being honest with you—I don't know.' Just before she found out the news, Reid said, 'We were emailing back and forth with the PR department, praising our win for the NAACP Image Award.' 'It wasn't ratings' that got the show canceled, Reid went on, 'because we had just had a ratings meeting a couple of weeks before that talking about the fact that our show… other than Rachel Maddow, we were down the least' after Trump's election win. The Daily Beast reported in March that Reid's ratings were actually increasing when she was let go. 'We were just told that we were doing… that we were holding on pretty well,' she continued. 'And then, you know, it's not like the ratings have gotten better since I've been gone.' Reid also said the way she was told that her show was canceled felt 'scripted' and 'just very perfunctory.' 'I wasn't told 'The ratings were terrible,' 'It's something you did,' 'You tweeted a terrible thing,'' she said, adding that she was already being 'extra careful' online at the time, since 'there was a real anxiety about social media.' Reid she doesn't necessarily think her show was canceled because of her outspoken criticism of Trump, as many of her fans have speculated—but she said there's one reason she's not completely ruling it out. 'I'm a Black woman doing the thing. You know what I mean? And so I'm not different' from MSNBC hosts and Trump critics Rachel Maddow or Nicole Wallace, but 'I think that there's a difference for Trump in hearing the kinds of criticisms, specifically, out of a Black woman. It bothers him in a way it doesn't bother him like anything else.' 'There's a fear of him,' she also said, 'We're seeing it everywhere.'
