Joy Reid has been a familiar face on American television for years, known for her sharp political analysis and bold commentary. But while her professional life has played out in the public eye, her personal life has remained largely private. However, for over two decades, she has shared her life with her husband, Jason Reid, and together they have built a family that stays mostly out of the media spotlight.
Jason Reid and Joy-Ann Reid’s love story dates back to the mid-1990s when they first crossed paths in New York City. Both had an interest in media and film, and their shared passion brought them together. After dating for a while, they decided to take the plunge and exchanged vows in February 1997. Their marriage has stood the test of time, lasting more than 28 years as of 2025.
Who Is Joy Reid’s Husband, Jason Reid? The Couple Shares Three Children
Jason Reid has made a name for himself in the film and television industry. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in New York, he embarked on a career as a writer, editor, and producer. His most notable role was as a senior editor for Discovery, Inc., where he worked from 1999 to 2011.
Following his time there, he took on freelance editing projects for Universal/Peacock Productions, contributing to various documentaries and features. In 2005, he co-founded ImageLab Media Group, a production company focused on post-production work, documentaries, and feature films. His work has been recognized with awards, including a People’s Choice Award and a Webby Award.
Together, Joy Reid and her husband Jason have three children: their daughter Winsome, and their two sons, Jmar and Miles. Unlike their mother, who thrives in the public sphere, the Reid children have largely maintained their privacy. However, Jmar Reid has followed an artistic path, much like his father. He has dabbled in acting, music, and entertainment, and has been vocal about his identity and experiences growing up in a household shaped by media and political discourse.
Joy Reid, born Joy-Ann M. Lomena on December 8, 1968, in Brooklyn, New York, had a childhood marked by adversity. Her father, an engineer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was largely absent, and her mother, a Guyanese college professor and nutritionist, raised Joy and her siblings with strong values. When Joy was 17, her mother passed away from breast cancer, leading her to move to Brooklyn to live with an aunt. Despite these challenges, she excelled academically and earned a degree in film studies from Harvard University in 1991.
Joy Reid’s career trajectory has been impressive, from local journalism in Florida to national prominence at MSNBC. She first gained recognition as the managing editor of The Grio, a political columnist for the Miami Herald, and the editor of The Reid Report blog. She later transitioned to television, hosting The Reid Report on MSNBC in 2014. After the show was canceled in 2015, she became a national correspondent before returning to host AM Joy from 2016 to 2020.
Her primetime breakthrough came in 2020 when she took over the 7 p.m. slot with The ReidOut, making her the first Black woman to anchor a prime-time cable news show. However, her tenure at MSNBC faced an abrupt end in early 2025, when the network, under new leadership, canceled The ReidOut as part of a programming shake-up.
“My show had value.” Joy Reid gets emotional speaking about her unexpected firing from MSNBC. Says she’s “not sorry” for going “hard” at Trump. (Video: Win With Black Women) pic.twitter.com/85iv4yBZzP
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) February 24, 2025
Through all the shifts in her career, Jason has been a steady figure in Joy’s life. While she has become known for her outspoken views, Jason has maintained a quieter presence, focusing on his work behind the scenes in film production. Despite their high-profile careers, the couple has managed to keep their relationship strong, dealing with the challenges of the media industry together.
As of 2025, Joy Reid’s future in television remains uncertain following her departure from MSNBC. Still, she continues to be an influential voice in American political discourse. Whether she chooses to return to television, focus on writing, or pursue other ventures, her legacy as a trailblazer in media is firmly established. Meanwhile, her husband Jason Reid continues his work in film and production, and their children continue to carve out their own paths away from the limelight.
