Former MSNBC Host Melissa Harris-Perry is speaking out on her departure with the major news network.
During an interview with CNN, the host said that her exit negotiations with MSNBC fell through after she refused to accept the terms of a non-disparagement clause that she describes as a gag order.
“They wanted me to sign a non-disparagement clause, and we had a deep disagreement over what constituted the non-disparagement clause,” she said. “The wanted me not to speak about MSNBC. I said no.”
On Sunday the network announced that it was parting ways with the television show host. That came two days after she published an email to friends saying she had been “silenced” because the network had pre-empted her show for two weekends.
On Tuesday, Harris-Perry took to Twitter to express her feelings on how the decision went:
A few apologies: @MartinBashir @Toure @finneyk I am sorry for and ashamed of my earlier silence. I gave into to culture of fear at #msnbc
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 1, 2016
Note to @YvetteMiley & Phil if I cc u on email Tue & it’s leaked to press on Friday maybe I’m not the unpredictable one. #GetYourLeaksPhil
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 1, 2016
One of the unintended consequences of salary inequity– harder to get us to take one of those non-disclosure payoffs huh? #freedomovermoney
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 1, 2016
To be sure, hosting @MHPshow was one of the greatest joys of my professional life-a weekly privilege for 4 years. #NerdlandForever
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 1, 2016
Failures on @MHPshow were mine & nearly everything good belonged to brilliant team of producers, researchers, interns. #NerdlandForever
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 1, 2016
#Nerdland was a platform for diverse, brilliant voices to weigh in on politics — the only place on #MSNBC & cable pic.twitter.com/Oj1SnV30aP
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 1, 2016
#MSNBC says they would put their diversity “up against everyone else in the news business.” It’s a low bar. pic.twitter.com/dwlaNbsLU9
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 1, 2016
So #MSNBC y’all keep making cable great again. I’ll be staying challenging & unpredictable. #NerdlandForever pic.twitter.com/BCDOBLfITm
— Melissa Harris-Perry (@MHarrisPerry) March 1, 2016