MSNBC host Keith Olbermann announced Friday that he is leaving the network and his “Countdown” show. MSNBC later issued a statement that it had ended its contract with the controversial host.
Controversial liberal commentator Keith Olbermann is finished at MSNBC, after a sudden announcement that Friday night’s episode was his last.
NBC News briefly suspended Olbermann with pay in November 2010 after the network learned he had made campaign contributions, a violation of its policy for journalists. Although Olbermann worked for NBC for eights years, he claimed he did not know about the policy.
Olbermann donated $2,400 each to support U.S. House incumbents Gabrielle Giffords and Raul Grijalva from Arizona, and Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, who lost his U.S. Senate race to Rand Paul.
“The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” will take over the 7 p.m. Central slot vacated by “Countdown” and Ed Schultz’s “The Ed Show” will change from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and Cenk Uygur (of YouTube The Young Turks), an MSNBC contributor, take the 5 p.m. slot.
“The Rachel Maddow Show” will remain live at 8 p.m.