MSNBC host’s antisemitism exposed: “They’re the reason COVID is spreading"

A former MSNBC senior host Joy Reid has been accused of making blatantly antisemitic remarks during the COVID-19 pandemic, blaming Orthodox Jewish communities for spreading the virus in New York City, according to a former staffer who worked on her show.

The ex-production assistant, who spoke anonymously, described a disturbing rant during a 2020 staff meeting, in which the host allegedly claimed Orthodox Jews “only care about themselves” and dismissed concerns about their public health practices.

“They’re the reason COVID is spreading,” the host allegedly declared during the call, while no one on the production team objected to the remarks. The former staffer, who is Jewish, said she was shocked by the open antisemitism and how casually it was accepted in the newsroom.

"If you said this about any other group, it would have been immediately condemned," she noted.

The former assistant later messaged a senior producer, expressing concern over what she described as “100% antisemitic” comments. The producer acknowledged the issue but dismissed it, saying the host could be “careless with her language” and was “generally more careful on air.”

The hypocrisy was staggering, the staffer added, as the host’s show regularly positioned itself as an advocate for racial justice and marginalized communities—yet antisemitic rhetoric was tolerated behind the scenes.

"The show focused heavily on racial issues, but antisemitism was ignored," she said.

The incident left a lasting impact on the staffer, who considered quitting over the host’s antisemitism but ultimately stayed after her family talked her out of it.

Following the host’s recent firing from MSNBC, the former assistant emailed network executives, expressing relief over the host’s departure and exposing her history of antisemitic remarks.

"For years, I never spoke out about it, but it always weighed on me. Maybe I should have done more," she admitted.

MSNBC and representatives for the former host have refused to comment on the allegations.