What did Joy Reid say about Brokeback Mountain? Piers Morgan calls out former MSNBC host’s hypocrisy following 2018 controversy

Former MSNBC correspondent Joy Reid was the latest guest on Piers Morgan Uncensored.

The well-known critic faced several tough questions from the host, with some of them focused on her controversial blog, active during the mid-to-late 2000s. Morgan referenced the homophobic remarks from The Reid Report blog, which resurfaced in 2018.

The veteran broadcaster confronted his guest for alleged comments, while also quoting her views about Brokeback Mountain. For those unaware, multiple posts from the blog criticized the 2005 film. Although Joy Reid accused hackers of the problematic comments, many still attributed the homophobia to her.

In one of the posts, the author (allegedly Joy Reid) wrote,

“Who are all these people going to see Brokeback Mountain? I’m sorry I just don’t get it — it’s not a family film… I’d think teenagers would rather see cowboys dealing with a whole different kind of six-shooter.”

The post continues,

“[N]o straight guy is gonna be seen buying that ticket unless he’s a paid film critic … itself not exactly a couple film (cue the squirming straight guy…) and it’s not a “chick film” either — why would a girl want to see two good looking straight actors shagging each other? I guess I just don’t understand the modern culture. Either that or gay people have a crap load of money to spend on movies …”

However, it wasn’t the only post targeting Ang Lee’s award-winning queer western drama.

Joy Reid’s other alleged posts criticized Brokeback Mountain for featuring a gay love story.

31/x Even though she wouldn’t see BrokeBack Mountain because two guys getting it on was “too out there for her” she posted links to gay cowboy jokes. pic.twitter.com/IFChN1fYLt

— Chuck (Taylor's Version) (@Jamie_Maz) April 18, 2018

In 2018, @Jamie_Maz posted some screenshots of problematic posts from the then-MSNBC anchor’s old blog. The X user highlighted the alleged homophobic remarks, including the ones aimed at Brokeback Mountain. A quote from one of The Reid Report posts read,

“Most straight people had a hard time being convinced to watch “Broke Back Mountain.” (I admit I couldn’t go see the movie either, despite my sister’s ringing endorsement, because I didn’t want to watch the two male characters having s*x.)”

In another post, Joy Reid allegedly wrote about not being able to watch the film due to its gay love story,

“I still haven’t seen Brokeback Mountain — I just don’t think I could get through watching those two guys get it on… too out there for me … although I’m told it’s a good film… )”

Brokeback Mountain ended up winning several accolades, including three Oscars and four Golden Globes. Two of The Reid Report posts also criticized both ceremonies for honoring LGBTQ+-oriented films. However, after the blog resurfaced in 2018, the TV host denied authoring the controversial remarks. She said on Am Joy (via Deadline),

“I genuinely do not believe I wrote those hateful things because they are completely alien to me. But I can definitely understand, based on things I have tweeted, have written in the past, why some people don’t believe me. For that, I am truly, truly sorry.”

NEW: Piers Morgan accuses Joy Reid of being homophobic to her face on his show.

Morgan: "Have you watched Brokeback Mountain?"

Reid: *Goes on a rant about a children's book with strapon dild*s in it*

Morgan: "You posted on your blog that you wouldn't watch Brokeback Mountain… pic.twitter.com/bRgZm4g6Ii

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 17, 2025

Mediaite originally uncovered the anti-gay articles, attributed to Joy Reid, in December 2017. She was quick to issue a public apology and, months later, claimed that they were “fabricated.” In her recent interview with Piers Morgan, the political commentator faced harsh questions. The interviewer went on to suggest to Joy Reid,

“Now you're not at MSNBC. Now you're on your own doing your own thing, and you don't have to worry about repercussions and stuff. Are you prepared to finally come clean and just admit that was your blog and you did say those things?”

Reid responded,

“You know, Piers, I might have known that you would use this opportunity and interview and that this was your purpose, right? This is your purpose and that's fine. This is your show, and you can do whatever you like. You know, I could sit here and go on and on and fight with you about your strange, weird obsession with Megan Markle, but I won't do that because that would be rude.”

Joy Reid claimed that she was quite open with her employer about the situation around her blog and maintained that she did not write any of the hateful things. On being confronted again, the prominent Trump detractor also agreed to take responsibility for anything that was on the website, despite claiming to have had nothing to do with them.