NETWORK SOURS ON LEMON & COOP’S NEW YEAR’S SLEAZE!
Raunchy revelers drop the ball during ball drop
PARTY-HEARTY Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon were read the riot act by red-faced CNN bigwigs after a slew of alcohol-fueled antics on the network’s New Year’s Eve broadcast, insiders dished. Tequila-swilling cronies Cooper, 54, and Andy Cohen presided over a raucous
“CNN New Year’s Eve Live” in the Big Apple. But during the show, the boozy Bravo personality, 53, railed about “horrible” outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and screamed, “Sayonara, sucka!” Then kooky Cohen ripped “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve”
— and its host — by crowing, “If you look behind me, you’ll see Ryan Seacrest’s group of losers performing. I’m sorry, but if you’re watching ABC, you’re watching nothing.”
Meanwhile in New Orleans, a liquored-up Lemon, 55, ranted about not caring what his “haters” think about him and claimed some people dislike him because he’s a “successful Black man.”
The embarrassing incidents came as the network was still reeling from a slew of sex scandals — including primetime poster boy Chris Cuomo getting axed for alleged sexual misconduct and former senior producer John Griffin’s arrest on child sex-trafficking charges!
Both men have denied any wrongdoing.
But as The
National ENQUIRER previously reported, CNN ruled the cable roost just a year ago — until disgraceful mounting allegations torpedoed the network’s reputation and sank its onceenviable ratings.
Now, insiders say the recent soused shenanigans have infuriated fed-up execs! TV critic Bill Mann told The ENQUIRER, “This was the last thing CNN needed at the end of a scandal-scarred year.” Media Research Center Vice President Dan Gainor sniffed, “This is what CNN has become — a clown show.”
Loony Lemon’s episode was even more embarrassing in the wake of sexual assault allegations made against him by a bartender, who claimed in 2019 the newsman got down and dirty at a Long Island watering hole!
The “Don Lemon Tonight” host denied the boozeslinger’s story and slammed his suit as a shameless cash grab!
“The network cannot afford to have its marquee talent look bad on the air,” a source said. “Both Don and Anderson have been warned to clean up their acts or face the consequences!”