Tamron Hall secured her place in the TV news industry when she joined the Today show in February 2014. But while she was beloved, she wouldn't stay at the daytime program for too long. In February 2017, the always-dramatic world of morning news, which had endured major co-host drama and even a scandal with President Donald J. Trump, was hit with another bombshell when Hall suddenly announced she was leaving NBC News and MSNBC.
After the big news broke, the Today show was quickly thrust into the media spotlight as audiences tried to figure out just why Hall had quit and if NBC's newest hire, former Fox News star Megyn Kelly, had anything to do with it. Keep reading to learn all about Hall's decision to leave the popular morning show behind, and find out how the broadcast journalist had behaved when the cameras were turned off and what scandals awaited her after her NBC exit.
Hall's exit was abrupt
Hall shocked her millions of fans when she announced she was leaving her top-rated post on the Today show, as well as her duties on MSNBC, after her contract expires at the end of February 2017. "The last ten years have been beyond anything I could have imagined, and I'm grateful," she said in a statement (via Page Six). "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."
"Tamron Hall will be leaving NBC News and MSNBC when her contract expires this month," a spokesperson for NBC said. "Yesterday was her last day as an anchor on both networks. Tamron is an exceptional journalist, we valued and enjoyed her work at 'Today' and MSNBC and hoped that she would decide to stay. We are disappointed that she has chosen to leave, but we wish her all the best."
Hall joined MSNBC and the Today show in 2007 and 2014, respectively.
Did Kelly get in the way?
Hall's exit came just a few days after reports confirmed NBC was canceling the third hour of Today—during which Hall co-anchored Today's Take alongside Al Roker—to make room for new addition Kelly. Sources for People magazine claimed Hall was informed of the shake-up just "minutes before going on MSNBC," and the timing of the announcement "seems to have contributed to her decision to move on." The source said, "She couldn't believe they told her right before she had to go on air. She was definitely shocked."
Other show insiders are apparently unhappy with the decision, especially after the Today's Take program's recent surge in ratings. "Everyone has been left in the dark and no one knows why there's such a disruption when shows are doing so well across the board," a source told Page Six. "People are pissed," another source said. "The third hour was beating every syndicated show across the board. They were in over their head and bit off more than they can chew when they hired Megyn."
She's handling everything like a pro
Despite Hall's sudden departure, NBC apparently won't have to worry about dealing with another Ann Curry-esque situation in the press. In fact, sources told People Hall was "very much herself last week" after the Kelly news hit the tabloids. "She was bubbly as usual on air," an insider said. "She may have been annoyed, but she didn't show it on air." Others sources have praised Hall for being "nothing short of a team player" and keeping any potential drama off the air. "In Tamron Hall style, she went on air and acted like the classy professional that she is," a source said.
But was she difficult?
Although she's beloved by millions of fans, sources for Radar Online allege Hall wasn't exactly so sweet when the cameras weren't rolling. "She was very difficult," the source said. "She could have an attitude and was sometimes short and rude with the staff. If you were not Matt Lauer or talent, it could seem like she had no time for you."
Another insider said, "TV is a cutthroat business and Tamron is one of the best," adding, "Behind her are a long line of people she stepped over to get to the top. She makes friends with the right people and ignores everyone else. But this time she was out played by Kelly."
A source for People also alleged that there is "bad blood" between Hall and NBC.
NBC tried to get her to stay
Even as Megyn Kelly was being groomed as the network's next big superstar, NBC reportedly did its part to get Tamron Hall to stay during the awkward transition period. According to People magazine, while Hall's contract was slated to expire in February 2017, the network still tried to keep keep her on, attempting to entice her with a shiny new multi-million dollar deal.
"She was offered a lot of money to stay … and she turned it down," a source revealed to the publication. "She doesn't currently have another offer, but her contract was up. And they offered her a new deal."
A second source told People, "Insiders are surprised that she left." Ya think? Considering that most people would probably jump at the opportunity to rake in a seven-digit salary, we're pretty darn shocked too. We guess the promise of big bucks just wasn't a good enough reason to make the TV journalist want to stay on with the network.
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