MSNBC anchor Andrea Mitchell has been slammed over her tearful final sign-off from her long-running show.
The journalist wiped away tears on Friday afternoon as she said goodbye to her viewers and team after 17 years on air.
“In these challenging times I want to get back to my roots,” a visibly emotional Mitchell said.
She was then overcome with emotion as her colleagues entered the room and cheered for the anchor.
“Thank you for this incredible surprise and to all of you from NBC to MSNBC here,” she said through tears.
However, the moment sparked backlash online as some viewers criticized Mitchell’s emotional behavior.
“Is she always like this?” one viewer stabbed on X.
Others celebrated her exit.
“Let’s celebrate today, Andrea Mitchell Steps Away from MSNBC Anchor Chair After 17 Years!! Thank goodness,” one wrote.
Another added, “I was having a bad week until I heard that today is Andrea Mitchell’s last day at MSNBC.
“I feel better already.”
Mitchell stepped down after announcing last year she would be leaving Andrea Mitchell Reports after Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
Her daily program is the longest-running in MSNBC’s lineup, having launched in 2008.
Mitchell will continue working with NBC News as the network’s chief Washington correspondent and chief foreign affairs correspondent.
EMOTIONAL SEND-OFF
While some criticized her tearful goodbye, other viewers were more sentimental about her leaving.
“I had some issues with Andrea Mitchell over the last few years, but the last 15 minutes of her last show had me very emotional,” an X user wrote.
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“They did a great job with her send off.”
Another wrote, “Her experience, knowledge and recall is outstanding.
“Her ability to express it or ask her questions sometimes were a little tough to watch,” they continued.
“Seems like a perfect time, good luck to her, there are not many in her elite category.”
A third added, “I know everybody hates her now but I thought they gave Andrea Mitchell a nice send off.
“17 years ain’t nothing in TV land.”
OTHER ANCHOR EXITS
She is leaving at a time when several other well-known anchors have also departed from their networks. This trend is occurring as traditional media undergoes changes following Trump’s inauguration.
CBS anchor Norah O’Donnell left the network after 12 years last month.
Journalist Chuck Todd said goodbye to NBC News after nearly two decades with the network – most of which he spent publicly feuding with Trump.
CNN’s Jim Acosta also left his anchor position due to drama over the available time slots.
Mitchell’s successor hasn’t been announced.
