WASHINGTON — Joy Reid is facing strong pushback after stating that Elvis Presley’s famous nickname, “The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” is racist. On Wajahat Ali’s “The Left Hook” podcast, Joy Reid accused Presley of taking music from Black artists and said the title overlooks their influence.
Critics across the political spectrum quickly called her out, saying she is stirring up conflict. Supporters argue she is drawing attention to past injustices in American music and culture.
Reid, whose MSNBC show “The ReidOut” was cancelled in February during a network reorganization, used her podcast appearance to express her views about, as she put it, “mediocre White men” such as Donald Trump and Elvis. She claimed that people like Presley “can’t invent anything” and instead copy from other cultures.
Reid pointed to Presley’s hit “Hound Dog,” first sung by Black blues artist Big Mama Thornton, as an example of this. She also made a jab at White culture by saying, “They got Cracker Barrel and Kid Rock,” calling it unoriginal and dependent on other groups for new ideas.
Her comments sparked immediate and widespread reactions. On social media, many Presley fans, right-leaning commentators, and some centrists argued that Reid’s words were needlessly divisive.
Joy Reid, a Race Peddler
Piers Morgan challenged her views in an interview, saying her arguments were oversimplified. Sky News Australia’s Gabriella Power described Joy Reid as someone who focuses too much on race and stirs up controversy.
Many online commenters echoed this view, calling her a “race peddler” and claiming she uses controversy for personal attention.
Critics also brought up the story behind Presley’s “King” nickname to dispute Reid’s claims. They point out that Bea Ramirez, a Mexican-American reporter for the Waco News-Tribune, first called him “king of the nation’s rock ‘n’ roll set” in an article published in April 1956 after a Texas concert. Ramirez spoke with Presley backstage before the show and described his growing popularity.
Her writing is part of the historical record, which complicates the idea that his title is only about race.
Leaving Out the Facts
Music historians have debated Presley’s place in rock ‘n’ roll for years. Many agree that he drew from Black musicians like Thornton and Arthur Crudup, but also note he helped rock ‘n’ roll reach bigger audiences across racial lines in the still-segregated 1950s.
Joy Reid shares a perspective that sees his rise as an example of cultural appropriation. Her opponents argue that she leaves out the fact that Presley openly credited Black artists and that the roots of his nickname include input from non-White voices.
Since leaving MSNBC, Joy Reid has suggested her exit had to do with her outspoken criticism of Trump, coverage of the Gaza conflict, and racial tensions at the network. She has since moved toward independent media, launching a new podcast in June. Despite this, her Elvis remarks have only increased calls for her to address the controversy, with some questioning if her bold statements hurt broader talks about race and music.
Even as comments continue online, this episode shows that arguments about who gets credit in American culture are far from over. Elvis remains a figure who draws debate about legacy, creativity, and fairness. Reid has not released a follow-up statement about the backlash, but public reaction remains strong.
