'Not a good start to Black History Month': NBC under fire after Tamron Hall turns down millions and abruptly QUITS network cancels her Today time slot to make room for Megyn Kelly

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The news that Tamron Hall is leaving NBC after 10 years with the network when her contract expires later this month has caused outrage among many on social media.

That is due in large part to the fact that Hall's decision comes just one week after she was told that NBC would be cancelling her time slot on Today to make way for Megyn Kelly when she joins the network later this year.

'Not a good way to start Black History Month @ NBC letting @TamronHall go. Who's next.... @AlRoker?' wrote one woman on Twitter.

Many on Twitter had that same thought, with some also going after Kelly in their comments, who was called everything from a 'racist apologist' to 'the racist "santa is white" b****.' 

And one man wrote: 'NBC purging black faces. If they had any clue, @TamronHall would be co-hosting Today.'

There is still no word on where Hall may be heading next, and how long she might have to stay off the air due to any non-compete clauses in her NBC contract.

Terrible news: Tamron Hall is leaving NBC after 10 years with the network (Hall above on Monday, one day before her final on-air appearance)

New kid on the block: Hall's decision came after she was informed that she and Al Roker were being taken off the third hour of Today and replaced by Megyn Kelly

Backlash: 'Not a good way to start Black History Month @ NBC letting @TamronHall go. Who's next.... @AlRoker?' wrote one Twitter user

A source familiar with the discussions between Hall and the network told DailyMail.com: 'NBC News very much wanted Tamron to stay, she was offered a multi-million dollar/multi-year contract and she chose to go.'

In a statement on Wednesday, Hall thanked everyone at the network for all they had done for her over the years. 

'The last ten years have been beyond anything I could have imagined, and I’m grateful. I’m also very excited about the next chapter. To all my great colleagues, I will miss you and I will be rooting for you,' said the 47-year-old anchor and journalist.

Kelly, who is resting on her laurels after being taken off the air by Fox News last month when she revealed her plans to sign with NBC, has yet to comment. 

Hall will also not be getting farewell or sendoff despite her decade with the network, as her final day on the air was Tuesday.

She did however get a chance to post a photograph of herself with Harry Connick Jr. and Keke Pamer on Instagram Tuesday, which was snapped during her final Today appearance.

'Thank you #kekepalmer and #harryconnickjr for making this morning so fun. The gag is ... @alroker was just a few steps away but missed out on this picture lol,' wrote Hall.

From there she headed over to Bergdorf Goodman for a Dolce & Gabbana event, and took some time to pose with the Adonis-like cater waiters who were on hand to tend to the needs of the fashionable crowd.

Then, to cap off what was no doubt a very bittersweet day, Hall posted a video on Snapchat of her and a few girlfriends sitting in the back of a car and singing along to The Four Seasons classic 'Who Loves You.' 

Hall wrote: 'Who's gonna love you. Me!! And these razy girls.' 

Final look: Hall posted a photograph of herself with Harry Connick Jr. and Keke Pamer on Instagram Tuesday, which was snapped during her final Today appearance

Fashionable lunch: After the show on Tuesday Hall headed over to Bergdorf Goodman for a Dolce & Gabbana event, and took some time to pose with the Adonis-like cater waiters

Not a care in the world: Hall posed for a photo at the event while sipping some coconut water (above)

Hall has long been one of the hardest working personalities on the network, and in the past two months had filled in for both Savannah Guthrie on Today and Lester Holt on NBC World News Tonight while also anchoring the third hour of Today.

On one day in December she filled in for both Guthrie and Hall while also hosting MSNBC Live.

She also hosted Deadline: Crime on Investigation Discovery and Dateline Extra on MSNBC, as well as lending her on-air talents to NBC's coverage of the Westminster Dog Show.

Roker will now anchor the third hour of Today until the show debuts their new morning lineup this fall.

Unlike Hall however, the meteorologist already had a steady gig on Today, and will continue to appear on the program's first two hours when Kelly arrives in the scene. 

Roker meanwhile managed to throw some shade at NBC executive by tweeting one day after learning Kelly would take over theor hour: 'Congrats to our @TODAY 9am producers for producing the #1 morning show 7 weeks in a row!! @TamronHall and I are very blessed.'

'Tamron is an exceptional journalist, we valued and enjoyed her work at TODAY and MSNBC and hoped that she would decide to stay,' NBC News said in a statement on Wednesday.

'We are disappointed that she has chosen to leave, but we wish her all the best.' 

Hall posted a video on Snapchat of her and a few girlfriends sitting in the back of a car and singing along to The Four Seasons classic 'Who Loves You.' Hall wrote: 'Who's gonna love you. Me!! And these razy girls.'

Casual visit: Hall paid a visit to fellow Today anchor Savannah Guthrie (above with Guthrie's children Vale and Charley) last week after learning she was being replaced by Kelly 

Busy bee: The 47-year-old hosted the third hour of Today (above), MSNBC Live and Deadline: Crime on Investigation Discovery

Winers: Kelly could be taking over Hoda Kotb and Kathie Lee Gifford's timeslot, which they have held since the fourth hour started airing a decade ago

Willie Geist was one of the many who paid tribute to Hall on social media after the news broke, saying of his Today pal: '@TamronHall is a great, talented TV partner, a sister for life... and a committed Halloween dancer. Can't wait to see your next move, TH.'

MSNBC correspondent Jacob Soboroff also commented after Hall's swift exit, writing: '@TamronHall is as genuine & gracious off-air as she seems on TV. I'm jealous of her future colleagues. So lucky to have worked with you!'

NBC News reporter Benjy Sarlin chimed in too, writing: 'Most of my first @MSNBC appearances were with @TamronHall , always enjoyed going on. Will miss having her around.' 

It was revealed earlier this month that Kelly would be leaving Fox News, putting to bed months of speculation regarding what the star host planned to do when her contract was up with the cable news giant.

Not revealed during the big announcement of Kelly's hiring, however, was how much she would be getting paid in her new role at NBC, and just how much Fox News was offering to get her to stay. 

Page Six reported last Friday that Kelly would be joining the team on Today, but that a decision has not yet been made as to whether or not she will be hosting the third or fourth hour of the program.

The third hour features Roker and Hall, while the fourth hour has been hosted by Hoda Kotb and daytime stalwart Kathie Lee Gifford since its inception a decade ago.

'Everyone has been left in the dark and no one knows why there’s such a disruption when shows are doing so well across the board,' said one insider.

Another insider also chimed in, saying: 'People are pissed. The third hour was beating every syndicated show across the board. They were in over their head and bit off more than they can chew when they hired Megyn.'

That report also confirmed that Kathie Lee and Hoda might be bumped out of their time slot, but would not be out of a job. 

Hall's departure comes a little less than five years after the NBC morning show was widely criticized for the insensitive manner in which they sent off longtime anchor Ann Curry after 15 years with the network.

Curry broke down in tears on live television as she told viewers she would not longer be hosting Today alongside Matt Lauer, just one year after she received the much coveted anchor chair.

That move come two months after Today was overtaken in the ratings by Good Morning America, breaking their 16-year streak as the most watched morning news program.

It was revealed earlier this month that Kelly would be leaving Fox News, putting to bed months of speculation regarding what the star host planned to do when her contract was up with the cable news giant.

Not revealed during the big announcement of Kelly's hiring, however, was how much she would be getting paid in her new role at NBC, and just how much Fox News was offering to get her to stay.