Have you ever wondered who’s behind some of the most compelling political commentary on TV?
Meet Joy Reid, a powerhouse in American media. Born on December 8, 1968 (Age: 55 years old), Joy-Ann M. Lomena-Reid has become a prominent figure as a progressive political commentator and television host.
Ever since she took the reins of her MSNBC show The ReidOut in 2020, she has made waves with her fearless discussions on politics and society.
But that’s not where her journey began—did you know she also hosted The Reid Report and AM Joy before that?
Joy has a unique gift for breaking down the big, complex issues in politics, making them easy to understand for her audience. Whether she’s challenging the political establishment or offering sharp insights on the biggest news stories, Reid isn’t afraid to speak her mind. The New York Times once called her a “heroine” in the fight against Donald Trump’s policies!
On top of all that, she’s written three impactful books, including Fracture and The Man Who Sold America.
Isn’t it amazing how one person can balance the roles of a television host, author, and national political correspondent so effortlessly?
Read more in Joy Reid Wiki about age, net worth, height, career, awards and many more things.
Joy Reid Wiki & Early Life
Full Name | Joy-Ann M. Lomena-Reid |
Profession | Journalist, Political Commentator, Author |
Age | 55 years old |
Date of Birth | 8 December 1968 |
Nationality | American |
Zodiac/Sun Sign | Sagittarius |
Birthplace | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
Current Address | Washington, D.C. |
Joy Reid Husband, Children
Joy Reid has been married to Jason Reid since 1997. Jason is a documentary film editor and co-founder of ImageLab Media Group. Together, they have three children: two sons, Nasir and Jmar Reid, and a daughter, Winsome Reid. The family lives in Washington, D.C., although their youngest child is currently attending college.
Relationship Status | Married |
Husband/Boyfriend | Husband: Jason Reid |
Children | Son: Nasir Reid, Jmar Reid Daughter: Winsome Reid |
Joy Reid Family
Joy Reid’s father was from Guyana, and her mother was from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. They met while studying at the University of Iowa. Joy’s parents eventually divorced, and her father returned to the Congo. Joy was raised in Denver, Colorado until her mother passed away from breast cancer when Joy was 17.
She then moved to Brooklyn, New York, to live with an aunt. Joy has two siblings: a brother, Oren Lomena, and a sister, June Carryl, who is an actress and playwright​.
Parent’s Name | Father: Henry Robert Witherspoon Mother: Nancy Hart |
Siblings | Brother: Oren Lomena Sister: June Carryl |
Joy Reid Education
Joy Reid attended Harvard University, where she earned a degree in Film Studies in 1991. While at Harvard, she had to financially support herself by paying her tuition and living costs, an experience that she later described as a great learning opportunity.
School | Yet to updated |
Alma Mater | Harvard University |
Highest Qualification | BA in Film Studies |
Joy Reid Career
Joy Reid started her journalism career in Florida in 1997, working for WSVN Channel 7. She later became involved in political activism and worked on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign.
She has held several roles at MSNBC, including hosting shows like The Reid Report and AM Joy. Since 2020, she has been hosting The ReidOut, making her the first Black woman to anchor a primetime news show on a major U.S. network.
Year | Role | Company |
1997 | Journalist, Morning Show Host | WSVN Channel 7, Florida |
2003 | Deputy Communications Director | America Coming Together (Anti-war group) |
2004 | Florida Press Advisor for Presidential Campaign | Barack Obama Campaign |
2006-2007 | Co-host, Wake Up South Florida | WTPS Radio, Miami |
2011-2014 | Managing Editor | The Grio |
2003-2015 | Political Columnist | Miami Herald |
2000-2014 | Editor, Political Blog The Reid Report | Independent |
2014-2015 | Host, The Reid Report | MSNBC |
2015 | National Correspondent | MSNBC |
2016-2020 | Host, AM Joy (Political Weekend Show) | MSNBC |
2020-Present | Host, The ReidOut (Primetime Political Show) | MSNBC |
2015 | Lecturer (Race, Gender, and Media) | Syracuse University |
Books
Publishing Year | Book Title |
2015 | Fracture: Barack Obama, the Clintons, and the Racial Divide |
2017 | We Are the Change We Seek: The Speeches of Barack Obama (Co-edited with E.J. Dionne Jr.) |
2019 | The Man Who Sold America: Trump and the Unraveling of the American Story |
2024 (Upcoming) | Medgar and Myrlie |
Awards
Year | Award |
2016 | Carol Jenkins Visible and Powerful Media Award |
2017 | 4th Most Tweeted Journalist |
2017 | 4th Most Tweeted News Outlet |
2015 | Delivered the inaugural Ida B. Wells lecture |
2018 | Featured in The Hollywood Reporter as one of the “Top Political Pundits” |
Controversies
Year | Controversy | Details |
2017-2018 | Blog posts surfaced with homophobic remarks | Reid’s older blog posts contained homophobic statements. She apologized and claimed the blog may have been hacked, though no evidence of hacking was found. |
2018 | Blog posts with anti-Semitic and conspiracy theories | Reid was criticized for blog posts from 2005-2007, where she made controversial remarks about Israel and the 9/11 attacks. She apologized, and MSNBC continued to support her. |
2020 | Comments linking Kyle Rittenhouse to Muslim extremism | Reid compared media reactions to the radicalization of Muslims to how they treated Kyle Rittenhouse’s case, drawing backlash and accusations of Islamophobia​. |
Joy Reid Net Worth, Salary
Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | $4 Million |
Salary (Approx.) | $1.5 Million |
Joy Reid Height, Weight & Physical Stats
Height | In centimeters: 175 cm In meters: 1.75 m In feet & inches: 5 feet 9 inches |
Weight | In kg: Yet to be updated In lbs: Yet to be updated |
Body Measurements | Yet to be updated |
Hair Colour | Dark Brown |
Eye Colour | Dark Brown |
Joy Reid Instagram, X, Facebook
joyannreid | |
X | @JoyAnnReid |
joyreidofficial |
10 Interesting Facts About Joy Reid
- Her parents met while studying at the University of Iowa—her mother was from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and her father was from Guyana​.
- She lost her mother to breast cancer at the age of 17, which led her to move from Denver to Brooklyn.
- She paid her way through Harvard University, covering both tuition and living expenses​.
- Her brother, Oren Lomena, is a sports enthusiast who has hosted shows related to sports commentary.
- Her sister, June Carryl, is an actress and playwright, with a career in the arts.
- She once left journalism to work for an anti-war group and later on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign​.
- Joy Reid was a fellow at the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism, a prestigious journalism fellowship​.
- She is also a lecturer, teaching a course on race, gender, and media at Syracuse University.
- In 2017, she was among the most tweeted journalists, ranking fourth on Twitter.
- She co-hosted a morning talk show in Miami called Wake Up South Florida early in her career​.
FAQs
Who is Joy Reid’s husband?
Joy Reid’s husband is Jason Reid, a documentary film editor and co-founder of ImageLab Media Group. They’ve been married since 1997.
Which actress is Joy Reid’s sister?
Joy Reid’s sister is June Carryl, an actress, playwright, and director​.
Who are Joy Reid’s children?
Joy Reid has three children: Winsome Reid (daughter), and two sons, Nasir and Jmar Reid​.
What is Joy Reid’s real name?
Her real name is Joy-Ann M. Lomena-Reid.
Who is Joy Reid’s brother?
Joy Reid’s brother is Oren Lomena, who is involved in sports media.
Is Joy Reid still with MSNBC?
Yes, Joy Reid is still with MSNBC, where she hosts the primetime political commentary show The ReidOut​.