Television host and journalist Tamron Hall turned down a $2 million NBC contract after learning she would be removed from her roles at the network. She said the decision came down to principle, fairness, and how she wanted to be represented in the industry.
Hall recalled that in 2017, while working across Dateline and MSNBC Live, she received a text from her then-agent. The message said NBC was making major changes, she was no longer part of them, and outlined what the network was offering to keep her, including a reported $2 million annual deal.
“A text message came from my then-agent, and he said, ‘They’re making a big change. You’re no longer in. Here’s what they’re offering,’” Hall recalled, according to People. “And he proceeded to bullet point in a text all these things that they were offering to keep me.”
The timing hit hard. Hall said she got the news just before going on air for an 11 p.m. MSNBC broadcast, leaving her overwhelmed as she tried to process everything while still at work.
She said she immediately texted her mother after reading the message, feeling like her career direction had changed in an instant while she sat in the studio.
When asked why she refused the offer, Hall said she told her agent she would pass. She later explained, “All money’s not good money. It’s not,” and said her decision went beyond financial terms and reflected her values.
Her mother, Mary Newton, encouraged her during that moment and reminded her of the importance of standing firm. Hall also said she considered younger Black women in journalism and how her response could shape what they believed was possible for them in the field.
Hall was later removed from Today when Megyn Kelly took over the 9 a.m. slot. NBC released a joint statement wishing her well, while reports said she had been offered millions to stay but declined.
The decision sparked debate in the media industry. The National Association of Black Journalists criticized NBC’s changes and raised concerns about diversity, while the network defended its newsroom record and later met with NABJ representatives.
After leaving NBC, Hall launched The Tamron Hall Show in 2019. The show went on to earn multiple renewals and established her continued presence in daytime television.
SOURCE: blacknews.com