MSNBC host Joy Reid has sparked widespread controversy with her remarks about the 4th of July, stating that “nobody Black I know is really excited” about the holiday.

In the statement, Reid described Independence Day as:

“It is the celebration of slaveholders who freed themselves from having to pay taxes to the crown for their slave empire.”

The comment, delivered during a broadcast, has drawn sharp criticism from many who view it as a dismissive and historically misleading characterization of America’s founding and the significance of the Declaration of Independence.

Critics argue that Reid’s framing ignores the broader historical context of the American Revolution and the aspirations for liberty expressed in the nation’s founding documents — principles that would later fuel the abolitionist movement.

Supporters of Reid, however, see her comments as highlighting the complicated relationship many African Americans have with the holiday, given the reality of slavery at the time of the nation’s founding.

The remarks have reignited debates about how Americans interpret and commemorate the 4th of July, especially in an era of heightened focus on historical reckoning and cultural divisions.

As of now, Reid has not issued further clarification on the statement.