Chris Matthews Resignation Stuns MSNBC Colleagues, Delights Critics: ‘Wiping Tears From Our Eyes’
In light of Chris Matthews’ sudden retirement announcement from his longtime MSNBC’s program Hardball, Twitter responded with admiration and criticism for the host.
Matthews, who made an abrupt retirement announcement Monday night on the network stating, “After conversations with MSNBC, I decided tonight would be my last Hardball.”
MSNBC’s Steve Kornacki then took over the reins on the program and offered an emotional tribute to Matthews.
Twitter shared equal parts condemnation, grievance, and well wishes for the longtime MSNBC host.
Laura Bassett, who accused Matthews of making sexist and “belittling” comments this past Friday, responded on Twitter Monday night to the retirement.
No, I have more to say than that. Since calling out Chris Matthews, this week has been really rough. The harassment has been invasive, cruel and personal. And it’s all worth it if he will never have the platform to demean and objectify us again. https://t.co/YS1FxW25zt
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) March 3, 2020
Anyway, who else needs a whiskey shot
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) March 3, 2020
Meanwhile, Matthews’ MSNBC colleagues praised and thanked him for his years at the network:
In shock. But let me say: being on @hardball was on my dream board from back in my @MiamiHerald column days. Chris Matthews not only let me on as a guest, he was 1 of the 1st to let me fill in. He has always been a genuine supporter & friend, who even sang for me when I was down. https://t.co/bwj5PK2TGs
— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) March 3, 2020
Thank you @SteveKornacki for saying everything I was thinking ..
I am so sad about @HardballChris— Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) March 3, 2020
Mika and I were deeply moved by @SteveKornacki’s tribute to Chris Matthews. Actually, we are wiping tears from our eyes. We love Chris and will miss him every night in our home at 7pm. As Steve said, Chris was the most human TV guy and “I say that as the highest compliment.” pic.twitter.com/M7uGj61kAB
— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) March 3, 2020
Washington Post columnist and MSNBC analyst Eugene Robinson offered kind words to Matthews offering the former Hardball host “nothing but the best.”
Chris Matthews is a great colleague and an even better friend. I’m stunned. I wish him nothing but the best, and it’s hard to imagine “Hardball” without him. https://t.co/NjZWdOsKwc
— Eugene Robinson (@Eugene_Robinson) March 3, 2020
Fox News’ Steve Hilton stated that retirement from Matthews was a “total f…ing outrage,” when higher-ups at NBC haven’t been held accountable yet:
what a total f…ing outrage
MSNBC fire Chris Matthews #hardball for sexual harrassment
his sleazy misogynist bosses Noah Oppenheim and Andy Lack:
– covered up Harvey Weinstein’s crimes
– are apologists for rape and sexual assault
– yet KEEP their jobshttps://t.co/59B9unDHBa— steve hilton (@SteveHiltonx) March 3, 2020
Pundits on Twitter added:
This never goes well. The friend’s “He never did it to ME” vouch-for is meaningless, since the friend wasn’t always there, AND it discredits alleged victims. THIS one also manages to dismiss harassment as mere flirting, an idea that, like Matthews, has rightly been retired. https://t.co/iVoaPo74hP
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) March 3, 2020
Trump is outlasting EVERYONE “Chris Matthews announces retirement, mutually parts ways with MSNBC” https://t.co/wnrFfOaKo5
— Tammy Bruce (@HeyTammyBruce) March 3, 2020
It appears the woke commies got Chris Matthews pic.twitter.com/Kl72zrc5Bu
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) March 3, 2020
Chris Matthews resigned from MSNBC tonight. He is an honest, honorable, kind and compassionate human being and we wish him only the best in his career which is far from over.
— Mike Barnicle (@mikebarnicle) March 3, 2020
I’m pretty upset about Chris Matthews leaving MSNBC. No more combing hair with shoes. No more coming in there all rumpled. No more weird stream of consciousness monologues. The world lost something today. A little happiness. A little joy. pic.twitter.com/dpt9mChHtJ
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 3, 2020
Chris Matthews opening #hardball tonight: pic.twitter.com/Yz1XkfopQI
— Travon Free (@Travon) March 3, 2020
Beyond time. Credit to @ewarren for standing up to him and putting his on-air misogyny back in the spotlight, and MF-ing @LEBassett for speaking out about his backroom behavior -at great personal cost- and making this impossible to ignore: https://t.co/b6ShtXmJP1 https://t.co/tOPiAFWaam
— Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) March 3, 2020
Thank you @LEBassett for your bravery and courage. Sexual harassment won’t be tolerated anymore. #ChrisMatthews @MSNBC https://t.co/Oe3XO7Hbmy
— Gretchen Carlson (@GretchenCarlson) March 3, 2020
