UPDATE: Earlier on Monday, rumors circulated that Andy Cohen would not return for CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage later this year. The network has since provided an update on Cohen’s status, with a spokesperson for CNN telling InsideHook, “I can confirm that Andy Cohen will be back to host NYE on CNN next year.”
Not long into 2022, a moment from CNN’s coverage of Times Square on New Year’s Eve quickly became ubiquitous. Hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper were overlooking the celebrations a few minutes after midnight when Cooper asked Cohen to say something. Cohen obliged, and proceeded to verbally lacerate outgoing mayor Bill de Blasio.
“Don’t go on a rant,” Cooper said to his co-host, but by then it was too late. In the day that followed, Cohen took to Instagram to acknowledge the previous night’s broadcast. “I was a hair over-served last night, but man did I have fun! I hope you did too,” he wrote. “Happy New Year everybody.”
According to a report from Radar Online, Cohen’s tirade will have one lasting consequence — he won’t be back on CNN to cover New Year’s Eve next year.
An anonymous insider who spoke with Radar expressed frustration that Cohen had become more associated with the network than some of its employees. “Andy doesn’t even work for CNN and yet he has been the face of our network for the past 48 hours,” the person said. “It is embarrassing and real CNN staffers are very angry.”
One wonders if, in the wake of Chris Cuomo’s firing, CNN’s management is essentially overcorrecting here. Was Cohen’s rant terribly “professional”? Not really. But the dynamic of Cooper and Cohen hanging out and watching the festivities is meant to be fairly freewheeling and informal, one assumes. Alternately, people do have a bit too much to drink and say off-the-cuff things at parties. If the vibe you’re going for is party-esque, something like that is bound to happen.
“I have a feeling I’m going to be standing right here next year,” Cohen said on New Year’s Eve. Now, that takes on a bit more of a melancholy quality.
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