The NY Post is exclusively giving more details behind the firing of popular Ex-MSNBC host Tiffany Cross, and people are not happy about the story they claim is from an unnamed source.
According to the POST:
Cross learned that she was getting pushed out days ahead of her exit — and threatened to “go out in a blaze” and “take down” the cable TV network and its boss, Rashida Jones.
The controversial anchor — whose weekend show “The Cross Connection” was abruptly canceled earlier this month as MSNBC elected not to renew her contract, according to sources — began frantically calling other journalists, media executives and social activists a week before her ouster in a bid to rally support, a source with knowledge said.
“She made calls saying, ‘I’m going out in a blaze and I’m taking down the network and going after Rashida,’” a source close to the situation said, paraphrasing Cross.
MSNBC execs and Jones, the network’s president, did not get wind of the phone calls until after Cross was let go, sources told The Post.
It is unclear how Cross knew of her looming dismissal, but insiders speculated that her agent had been given the news while trying to negotiate a new contract for his client.
Neither Cross nor her agent, WME’s Henry Reisch, responded to requests for comment.
Her lawyer Bryan Freedman also did not return calls or emails for comment.
MSNBC declined to comment.
Insiders say Cross was ousted partly over her habit of making “vulgar” comments and “name calling” on air, but The Post has learned that she also had been under fire for racking up as much as $100,000 in expenses for five-star hotel stays.
During her two-year tenure at MSNBC, the host took trips to Los Angeles and the Super Bowl, portraying them as work trips, sources said. Cross’ Oscars trip, in which she stayed at the Beverly Wilshire on Rodeo Drive for an “extended stay,” raised eyebrows, according to a source.
“She’s staying at a hotel NBC’s execs don’t stay at,” the source said of the Four Seasons-owned hotel, which charges more than $1,000 a night for a basic room during high season.
“She mistook working in television news for being a celebrity,” the source added. “She was making north of $200,000 and she acted like she made $5 million.”
Elsewhere, Cross irked colleagues as she demanded more office space despite the fact she was only on the air once a week, an insider added. Management wasn’t receptive partly because her show was in last place — despite her public insistence that her numbers were strong, according to sources close to the situation.
In a statement on her exit, Cross claimed that her show garnered “more than 4.6 million monthly viewers” and that it was MSNBC’s “highest-rated weekend show.”
According to Nielsen, “The Cross Connection” never came close to that number, drawing between 704,000 and 465,000 a week since June.
For the year, Cross’ show averaged 548,000 viewers.
Last month, the show reeled in just 605,000 viewers on average, trailing “CNN Newsroom” with 696,000 viewers and Fox News’ “Cavuto Live,” which tallied nearly 1.4 million viewers.
Ratings also show that “MSNBC Live with Alex Witt” is the network’s highest-rated weekend show.
“She mistook working in television news for being a celebrity,” the source added.
“She was making north of $200,000 and she acted like she made $5 million.”
Elsewhere, Cross irked colleagues as she demanded more office space despite the fact she was only on the air once a week, an insider added. Management wasn’t receptive partly because her show was in last place — despite her public insistence that her numbers were strong, according to sources close to the situation.
In a statement on her exit, Cross claimed that her show garnered “more than 4.6 million monthly viewers” and that it was MSNBC’s “highest-rated weekend show.”
According to Nielsen, “The Cross Connection” never came close to that number, drawing between 704,000 and 465,000 a week since June. For the year, Cross’ show averaged 548,000 viewers.
Last month, the show reeled in just 605,000 viewers on average, trailing “CNN Newsroom” with 696,000 viewers and Fox News’ “Cavuto Live,” which tallied nearly 1.4 million viewers.
Ratings also show that “MSNBC Live with Alex Witt” is the network’s highest-rated weekend show.
Twitter Reaction:
Y'all know I don't stan Tiffany Cross but that NY Post article is some bullshit.
Y'all MAGAs got what you wanted leave her alone.
— Hungry and Hopeful In DFW (@Kennymack1971) November 17, 2022
and
Now I’m really laughing at #3, the so-called “office space” demands from @TiffanyDCross. Ok @nypost, were these demands for staff in NY or DC? This like a throw-in. Now let’s get to #4. The source tells the @nypost that @TiffanyDCross show was in dead ass last place. Hmmm. 11/17
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) November 17, 2022
and
I’m sorry.. MSNBC is clearly trying to Olivia Pope @TiffanyDCross
$100k over a two year span is not excessive to me. Also, WHY TF was she only making north of $200K?
Something not adding up. They gots to do better if this all they have.
— I'm a Vessel! (@DjamarV) November 17, 2022
and
At @CNN, we had a central travel system. If I called to book a hotel room, they gave me hotel rates. I didn’t just charge it to the company. You actually think that @msnbc would have let @TiffanyDCross run up a $100K hotel tab and folks figure it out later? The so-called 7/17
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) November 17, 2022
and
We know what it is Roland, Thanks for having Tiffany's back. Utter ridiculousness.
— Jan Walker (@AShawGrad) November 17, 2022
and
I feel like MSNBC thinks that black women are interchangeable like the light ?bulb from a easy-bake oven….. Which explains why they cancelled Tiffany Cross without warning pic.twitter.com/OIb7fmcmfA
— 2RawTooReal (@2RawTooReal) November 15, 2022
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