Tamron Hall Unbothered After Quitting ‘TODAY’ Show, Network Accused of “WhiteWashing”

Tamron Hall

As previously reported, Tamron confirmed her departure in a statement, writing:

The last 10 years have been beyond anything I could have imagined … I’m also very excited about the next chapter. To all my great colleagues, I will miss you and I will be rooting for you.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Black Journalists has responded, accusing NBC of “whitewashing”. The organization wrote:

The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is saddened by Tamron Hall’s departure from NBC. She broke ground as the first black female ‘Today’ show co-host and was enjoying ratings success alongside Al Roker during the show’s third hour of programming. NBC has been a leader for diversity in broadcasting, but recent reports that Hall and Roker will be replaced by former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly are being seen by industry professionals as whitewashing.

They add,

Kelly has a well-documented history of offensive remarks regarding people of color. On ‘The Kelly File,’ her Fox News show, the host said then-First Lady Michelle Obama’s commencement address at Tuskegee University pandered to a ‘culture of victimization.’ While NABJ wishes Hall well on her next move, NABJ requests a meeting with NBC leadership on the top-rated show’s dismantling. We look forward to dialogue and resolve regarding black journalists and their continuing roles at NBC both in front and behind the camera. 

A spokesperson for NBC responded:

NBC News has a long and proven history as an industry leader in newsroom diversity. We will continue to engage in the running dialogue we’ve had for many years with the National Association of Black Journalists and other advocacy groups to advance those goals.

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