Alleged Rift Emerges Between CNN New Year's Hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper Over Kathy Griffin Contact

Comedian Kathy Griffin disclosed receiving an email from Bravo executive and CNN New Year's Eve co-host Andy Cohen, reigniting discussions about past professional tensions among the trio. The contact was revealed during BravoCon, where Cohen acknowledged emailing Griffin, though she noted it lacked an apology.

Griffin, a longtime figure in entertainment known for her outspoken comedy, co-hosted CNN's New Year's Eve special with Anderson Cooper, a prominent gay journalist, for 10 years until 2017. She was removed from the role following a controversial social media post depicting a fake, bloodied head resembling then-President Donald Trump, which drew widespread backlash. Cohen, who is openly gay and a key figure at Bravo, subsequently took over the co-hosting duties alongside Cooper.

Reports from sources close to the situation allege that Cooper is displeased with Cohen's private outreach to Griffin, fearing it could resurface "old emails, late-night confessions, real history" tied to her CNN exit. Griffin has a fraught history with Cohen as well; her Bravo series *Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List* aired for five seasons, but she has accused him of being a "horrible boss"who fired her from the network. Griffin stated publicly, " was terrible to me. He fired me from Bravo. "

The revelations surfaced shortly after CNN's *New Year's Eve Live* broadcast on December 31, 2025, where Cohen and Cooper drew attention for their lighthearted, alcohol-fueled antics, including Cohen's on-air rant criticizing outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Adams responded sharply on social media, stating, "Public intoxication is a disease. should seek help. " Sources now claim CNN is considering parting ways with Cohen due to his "embarrassing"behavior during the special.

Within LGBTQ+ communities, the story resonates given the high profiles of Cooper, an openly gay anchor who has covered major civil rights issues, and Cohen, a gay media executive whose *Watch What Happens Live* has amplified queer voices on Bravo for years. Griffin, who identifies as an ally and has faced professional repercussions for her advocacy-style commentary, has long navigated tensions in spaces overlapping with LGBTQ+ entertainment circles. No official statements from CNN, Bravo, Cooper, or Cohen have confirmed the alleged rift or future hosting changes as of January 6, 2026.

The event underscores dynamics in late-night television, where personal histories and public personas intersect. Cohen's *Watch What Happens Live* continues airing Sundays through Thursdays on Bravo. Observers in entertainment media note that such behind-the-scenes outreach could signal attempts at reconciliation, but sources emphasize Cooper's reluctance to revisit Griffin's 2017 controversy. For transgender people and broader LGBTQ+ audiences who tune into these broadcasts for representation, the potential shift in hosting lineup raises questions about continuity in inclusive programming.