Ex-MSNBC host Tiffany Cross learned that she was getting pushed out days ahead of her exit — and threatened to “go out in a blaze” and “take down” the cable-TV network and its boss Rashida Jones, The NY Post is reporting.
The controversial anchor — whose weekend show “The Cross Connection” was abruptly canceled earlier this month as MSNBC elected not to renew her contract, according to sources — began frantically calling other journalists, media executives and social activists a week before her ouster in a bid to rally support, a source with knowledge said.
“She made calls saying: ‘I’m going out in a blaze and I’m taking down the network and going after Rashida,'” a source close to the situation said, paraphrasing Cross.
MSNBC execs and Jones, the network’s president, did not get wind of the phone calls until after Cross was let go, sources told The Post. It is unclear how Cross knew of her looming dismissal, but insiders speculated that her agent had been given the news while trying to negotiate a new contract for his client.
MSNBC declined to comment.
Insiders say Cross was ousted partly over her habit of making “vulgar” comments and “name calling” on air, but The Post has learned that she also had been under fire for racking up as much as $100,000 in expenses for five-star hotel stays.
During her two-year tenure at MSNBC, the host took trips to Los Angeles and the Super Bowl, positioning them as work trips, sources said. Cross’ Oscars trip, in which she stayed at the Beverly Wilshire on Rodeo Drive for an “extended stay,” raised eyebrows, according to a source.
“She’s staying at a hotel NBC’s execs don’t stay at,” the source said of the Four Seasons-owned hotel, which charges more than $1,000 a night for a basic room during high season.
“She mistook working in television news for being a celebrity,” the source added. “She was making north of $200,000 and she acted like she made $5 million.”
No comments:
Post a Comment