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CNN staff turn on drunk and ranting Andy Cohen after NYE fiasco

Andy Cohen admitted that he was 'overserved' while hosting the network's annual New Year's Eve special alongside Anderson Cooper

CNN staff is reportedly enraged after Andy Cohen went on a drunk rant blasting the likes of NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and actor Ryan Seacrest.

MEAWW previously reported how the 53-year-old TV presenter admitted that he was "overserved" while hosting the network's annual New Year's Eve special alongside Anderson Cooper. And while he confessed he was "stupid and drunk and feeling it," his apology apparently did not go down well with CNN employees, some of whom said they were "embarrassed and angry" at the talk show host after he made a "fool" out of the network.

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"We claim to be the most trusted network in news and yet CNN hires Andy Cohen to make a fool out of all of us with his New Year's performance?" network insiders told Radar Online. "Andy doesn't even work for CNN and yet he has been the face of our network for the past 48 hours. It is embarrassing and real CNN staffers are very angry." CNN, however, denied claims that Cohen will "not be invited back" to host next year. "Andy said something he shouldn't have on live TV. We've addressed it with him and look forward to having him back again next year," a spokesperson stated.

Cohen addressed his inebriated tirade during an episode of his eponymous SiriusXM show, Andy Cohen Live, with co-host John Hill. "The only thing that I regret saying, the only thing is that I slammed the ABC broadcast and I really like Ryan Seacrest and he's a great guy," he said. "And I really regret saying that, and I was just stupid and drunk and feeling it." He continued, "And it was, it was, I was continuing the Journey rant and I just kept talking and I shouldn't have. I felt bad about that. So that is the only thing. It's the only thing."

Cohen did not hold back while commenting on Seacrest as the latter was hosting Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve for ABC during a simultaneous live broadcast. "If you look behind me, you'll see Ryan Seacrest's group of losers performing," Cohen said while co-hosting the broadcast with anchor Anderson Cooper. "I'm sorry but if you're watching ABC, you're watching nothing," he added.

The ABC broadcast hosted by Seacrest featured performances by Ashanti, Ja Rule, and Journey in Times Square. In his rant, Cohen also mocked Filipino singer Arnel Pineda as the lead singer of Journey. "We were doused with confetti from fake Journey on ABC. If it's not Steve Perry, it doesn't count! You get it?" Cohen said. "It's not Journey! It's propaganda! It's propaganda! It's not Journey! It's not Journey! No, that was not Journey. Steve Perry is Journey."

Cohen later said he regretted the comments, but eventually appeared to slam the news coverage of his controversial remarks rather than taking responsibility for them. "The headlines about Ryan Seacrest are all like I trash Ryan Seacrest," he noted. "I'm like, I really, I hope he hears the clip. You know what I mean? Anyway…"

Cohen also drew the ire of network staffers as he openly mocked de Blasio on the holiday special. "The only thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on is what a horrible mayor he has been," he insisted. "Don’t go on a rant!" Cooper interjected. "Is this how you want to start the new year?"

Cohen continued nonetheless. "So sayonara sucker! 2022! It’s a new year because guess what? I have a feeling I’m going to be standing right here next year, and you know who I’m not going to be looking at, dancing as the city comes apart? You!" he said.

Shortly before the comments, Cohen and Cooper drank a couple of shots in honor of Betty White, the legendary actress who died earlier that day. Cohen admitted on social media the following day that the shots may have had something to do with his behavior. "I was a bit overserved last night," he wrote on Instagram. "I had so much fun though, and I hope you did too!" he added.