MSNBC Has "Taken" Melissa Harris-Perry's Show and Reassigned Her to "Inconsequential" Weekend Slot; She Says MSNBC Is Changing the "Racial Composition" of Their On-Air Team

"It's my nature," said the scorpion, as they both sunk to the river's bottom.

Here's a letter she allegedly wrote to inform her "Nerdland" viewers of her snit.

Dearest Nerds,

As you know by now, my name appears on the weekend schedule for MSNBC programming from South Carolina this Saturday and Sunday. I appreciate that many of you responded to this development with relief and enthusiasm. To know that you have missed working with me even a fraction of how much I’ve missed working with all of you is deeply moving. However, as of this morning, I do not have any intention of hosting this weekend. Because this is a decision that affects all of you, I wanted to take a moment to explain my reasoning.

Some unknown decision-maker, presumably Andy Lack or Phil Griffin, has added my name to this spreadsheet, but nothing has changed in the posture of the MSNBC leadership team toward me or toward our show. Putting me on air seems to be a decision being made solely to save face because there is a growing chorus of questions from our viewers about my notable absence from MSNBC coverage.

Social media has noted the dramatic change in editorial tone and racial composition of MSNBC’s on-air coverage. In addition, Dylan Byers of CNN has made repeated inquiries with MSNBC’s leadership and with me about the show and what appears to be its cancellation. I have not responded to reporters or social media inquiries. However, I am not willing to appear on air in order to quell concerns about the disappearance of our show and our voice.

Our voice.

Here is the reality: our show was taken -- without comment or discussion or notice -- in the midst of an election season. After four years of building an audience, developing a brand, and developing trust with our viewers, we were effectively and utterly silenced.

Lot of drama here over someone's show being "taken" due to, I assume, poor ratings, and general silliness.

Now, MSNBC would like me to appear for four inconsequential hours to read news that they deem relevant without returning to our team any of the editorial control and authority that makes MHP Show distinctive.

More drama-- that they deem relevant. So conspiratorial!

Dude you lost your show because you suck. Persevere to endure. Rub some dirt on it. Walk it off. Put some butter on it.

Hey, remember when you reminded yourself of what real "working hard" was, with that picture of the family of slaves? Maybe you should show yourself that picture.

The purpose of this decision seems to be to provide cover for MSNBC, not to provide voice for MHP Show.

Yes, that's what happens when you lose our show.

I will not be used as a tool for their purposes. I am not a token, mammy, or little brown bobble head. I am not owned by Lack, Griffin, or MSNBC.

Like I said, remind yourself of how outraged you were that someone said they "worked hard," and how that slave family were the ones who really worked hard.

Are you really claiming that MSNBC is trying to enslave you?

I love our show. I want it back. I have wept more tears than I can count and I find this deeply painful, but I don’t want back on air at any cost. I am only willing to return when that return happens under certain terms.

Maybe they took your show because you were always weeping more tears than you could count, and they were like, "I don't want to deal with this blubbering imbecile."

Oh but it's like slavery.

Undoubtedly, television nurtures the egos of those of us who find ourselves in front of bright lights and big cameras.

Maybe, just a little.

Maybe the light is beginning to dawn on her.

I am sure ego is informing my own pain in this moment, but...

"But." Nope! No self-realization.

Right dude they're enslaving you.

...there is a level of professional decency, respect, and communication that has been denied this show for years.

Because it's not very good, it's silly, and you wear tampons as earrings.

And now you're telling me you cry all the time like a crazyperson

And the utter insulting absurdity of the past few weeks exceeds anything I can countenance.

From your own self-description, you can't countenance a lot of things. What, with all the crying and stuff of countless tears rolling down your cheeks into puddles of sad.

I have stayed in the same hotels where MSNBC has been broadcasting in Iowa, in New Hampshire, and in South Carolina, yet I have been shut out from coverage.

You know who else got to stay at the same hotels as other on-air television personalities, but then who were denied on-air hits?

Slaves did, that's who.

I have a PhD in political science and have taught American voting and elections at some of the nation’s top universities for nearly two decades, yet I have been deemed less worthy to weigh in than relative novices and certified liars.

So many credentials!

Did you also get a Ph.D. in Crying Too Many Tears to Count? Because if not, it sounds like you're just a few credits short!

Hey, let's hear some more bragging about yourself.

I have hosted a weekly program on this network for four years and contributed to election coverage on this network for nearly eight years...

I'm noticing no words like "I have consistently won my time slot" or "I have succeeded in increasing ratings from our lead-in."

... but no one on the third floor has even returned an email, called me, or initiated or responded to any communication of any kind from me for nearly a month.

Maybe they were worried you would cry, and there would be too many tears to count.

It is profoundly hurtful to realize that I work for people who find my considerable expertise and editorial judgment valueless to the coverage they are creating.

That's a direct quote from a slave's journal.

While MSNBC may believe that I am worthless, I know better. I know who I am. I know why MHP Show is unique and valuable. I will not sell short myself or this show. I am not hungry for empty airtime.

It sounds like you're hungry for water, because you're dehydrated, on account of all the crying.

I care only about substantive, meaningful, and autonomous work. When we can do that, I will return --not a moment earlier. I am deeply sorry for the ways that this decision makes life harder for all of you. You mean more to me than you can imagine.

One "you" does not make up for a plethora of "I's."

Yours always,

Melissa

There's a post-script, but I can't make it out, as the ink is all smeared from countless tears of crying and Not Countenancing.

posted by Ace at 09:02 PM

| Access Comments