MSNBC boss lobbied ‘The View’ hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin after Tiffany Cross firing: report

The president of MSNBC, who has come below fireplace from black activists in latest weeks for firing anchor Tiffany Cross, reportedly visited the set of ABC’s “The View” and personally pleaded her case to co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin.

Rashida Jones, the top of the left-leaning, Comcast-owned cable information outfit, was seen on the set of the ABC tv daytime speak present on Nov. 7 having accompanied her star anchor, Nicolle Wallace, who was set to be interviewed on the air, in response to a report.

Sources instructed the information website Selection that Jones personally approached each Goldberg and Hostin individually and provided up her aspect of the story in explaining why she let Cross go.

In line with Selection, Jones entered Goldberg’s dressing room as she had make-up utilized to her simply earlier than air time and requested “View” staffers to go away in order that the 2 might converse in non-public.

Selection reported that Jones additionally pulled Hostin apart for a chat within the hallway throughout which the MSNBC boss defined that Cross was let go as a consequence of her problematic “tone.” A number of “View” staffers are reported to have witnessed the interplay.

Sources instructed The Publish that Cross was let go after being repeatedly warned over incendiary feedback she made on the air.

MSNBC

Jones additionally needed “The View” co-hosts to keep away from mentioning the Cross dismissal on their “Sizzling Subjects” section the place they debate essentially the most titillating information tales of the day, in response to Selection.

An insider instructed Selection that the “View” co-hosts had initially deliberate to debate the Cross firing throughout that broadcast, however the subject was scrapped from the section in favor of different tales. The insider, nevertheless, denied that Jones’ presence on set was the explanation.

The Publish has reached out to “The View” looking for remark. MSNBC declined to reply to inquiries.

A supply acquainted with the state of affairs instructed The Publish that Jones visited the “View” set with none intention of swaying Goldberg and Hostin to again her place on Cross’ termination.

Jones reportedly warned Cross about her “tone” within the 12 months main as much as the community’s determination to not renew Cross’ contract, in response to experiences.

AFP through Getty Photos

When reached by The Publish, one other insider disputed Selection’s reporting, insisting that Jones visited the set to assist Wallace, who's the host of MSNBC’s extremely rated political present “Deadline: White Home.”

Wallace, a former “View” panelist who was fired from the present in 2015 after only one season, was invited onto the ABC gabfest with a purpose to promote a brand new collection on psychological well being that was streaming on NBC’s digital platform Peacock.

The supply instructed The Publish that Jones was associates with Kimberly Godwin, the president of ABC Information. The supply added that it was commonplace for Jones to go to the studios of rival networks — a transfer which reportedly raised eyebrows, in response to Selection.

Jones reportedly sought out “The View” co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Sunny Hostin in order that she will plead her case, Selection reported.

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Final month, Jones and MSNBC had been closely criticized for the choice to cancel “The Cross Connection” after declining to resume Cross’ contract.

Dozens of distinguished black leaders publicly slammed the choice and wrote a letter to Jones in protest.

The Publish was the primary to report that after studying of her ouster, Cross started frantically calling different journalists, media executives, and trade insiders to lash out at her now-former boss, vowing to “exit in a blaze” and “take down” MSNBC.

MSNBC execs and Jones, the community’s president, didn't get wind of the alleged cellphone calls till after Cross was let go, sources instructed The Publish.

Jones can be reported to have requested “View” co-hosts to keep away from mentioning the Cross firing throughout a “Sizzling Subjects” section.

AP

It's unclear how Cross knew of her looming dismissal, however insiders speculated that her agent had been given the information whereas attempting to barter a brand new contract for his shopper.

A supply near the state of affairs instructed The Publish that Jones and different higher-ups at MSNBC repeatedly warned Cross about incendiary feedback she made on the air.

Cross sparked outrage when she referred to Supreme Court docket Justice Clarence Thomas as “Justice Pubic Hair on My Coke Can” — a reference to one of many sexual harassment allegations made towards Thomas by Anita Hill throughout Senate affirmation hearings in 1991.

Throughout a podcast interview, Cross referred to the State of Florida because the “d–okay of the nation” that wanted to be “castrated.”