Former MSNBC mentor of Rachel Maddow, Keith Olbermann, blasted her on social media over her new contract with the network. Maddow received a pay cut to $25 million a year from $30 million.
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In 2008, Olbermann announced that he would be leaving his show Countdown with Keith Olbermann. He platformed Maddow and had her guest host on his show before she replaced him after his leave.
Mentor Slams Maddow Over MSNBC Deal
Maddow's old mentor was in talks with NBCUniversal executives about returning to the network in 2022. With plans to take over Maddow's 9 PM slot that spring, Maddow rejected the idea.
"I offered to have her production company 'produce' the show. Would give her some proxy control and a f***ton of money but she and [consultant] Phil Griffin refused," Olbermann spoke at the time to the Daily Beast.
Now four years later, Maddow's mentor has slammed her again, now for sticking with the network and receiving a $5 million a year pay cut.
Furious, Olbermann took to X to make a post about it: "She just re-signed for $25m. If you think she'd do anything for principle, I'll light a candle for you."
Olbermann's protégé was originally just a substitute for Olbermann once he left. Then, in 2021, Maddow negotiated a $30 million a year deal from her previous $7 million. This contract lasted through the 2024 election.
These pay cuts arose due to NBCUniversal's parent company Comcast spinning off its struggling cable networks. Comcast plans to enact this plan by the end of 2025, which would split off MSNBC from NBC News.
Despite these issues, an executive has called Maddow's show "ratings Viagra." Maddow has been hosting The Rachel Maddow Show every Monday night and is staying with MSNBC for the next five years. She will continue with her time slot to develop other podcasts and projects for the network.
These haven't been the only issues happening as of late with MSNBC and its hosts. Maddow is reportedly in a feud with Morning Joe hosts after they met with Donald Trump post-election.
Hosts Joe Scarborough and also Mika Brzezinski visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Florida estate to fix communications with the future president. Even a guest took a dig at the Morning Joe hosts over the trump visit.
"We wish Keith well," an MSNBC spokesman told news outlets, while also disputing the salary figure.
