Lead: On the early minutes of Jan. 1, 2026 in Times Square, Andy Cohen launched an on-air tirade about outgoing New York Mayor Eric Adams during CNN’s New Year’s Eve special while co-host Anderson Cooper repeatedly tried to shut him down. The exchange occurred just after the ball drop on the network’s traditionally party-focused broadcast, which Cohen and Cooper were hosting for the ninth consecutive year. Cohen, 57, made several cutting remarks about Adams’s tenure and referenced legal outcomes; Cooper, 58, visibly balked and twice intervened, saying “I’m out.” The moment quickly circulated online and drew widespread viewer reaction.
Key Takeaways
- Timing: The incident occurred at approximately 12:10 a.m. ET on Jan. 1, 2026 during CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live after the Times Square ball drop.
- Hosts: Andy Cohen (57) and Anderson Cooper (58) were co-hosting for their ninth straight year; guest B.J. Novak joined the broadcast.
- Target: Cohen criticized outgoing Mayor Eric Adams (65), referencing the dismissal of federal corruption charges on April 2, 2025.
- Intervention: Cooper interrupted Cohen twice and repeatedly said, “I’m out,” attempting to stop the segment from turning political.
- Viral reach: An earlier clip of the hosts’ tipsy banter and the rant clip circulated widely online, with one segment topping roughly 700,000 views.
- Correction: Cohen’s quip about “pardons” was a misstatement—Adams’s charges were dismissed with prejudice, not resolved by a presidential pardon.
- Succession: At midnight Jan. 1, 2026 Zohran Mamdani (34) succeeded Adams as New York City mayor.
Background
The CNN New Year’s Eve special with Cooper and Cohen has been a recurring, light‑hearted fixture intended to be largely apolitical and alcohol‑infused as part of its entertainment format. Cohen had publicly signaled that drinking would be part of the broadcast, telling viewers on his show that getting Cooper tipsy was part of the plan. The duet returned for the ninth consecutive year to host the network’s Times Square coverage, a program that blends celebrity banter with live event reporting.
Eric Adams’s tenure as New York City mayor ended at midnight on Jan. 1, 2026; his administration drew attention for multiple controversies and policy moves including a Mayor’s Office of Rodent Mitigation established in December 2025. In federal court, charges against Adams were dismissed with prejudice on April 2, 2025, a legal outcome that prevents the same charges from being refiled. The transition to Zohran Mamdani, 34, marked a notable generational shift in City Hall leadership.
Main Event
Shortly after the ball dropped, Cohen—drink in hand—shifted from party banter into criticism of Adams, opening with a remark about the mayor’s “chaotic” final moments in office. Cooper immediately cut in, saying “Oh no. I’m out,” and tried to steer the broadcast back to festivities. Cohen attempted to continue, offering a clipped, slightly slurred line about Adams receiving “pardons,” a comment that was inaccurate in substance.
As Cohen pressed on—telling Adams to “go off into the sunset” and complaining about “what you’ve left us with”—Cooper repeatedly told him to stop and appeared ready to exit the stage. Guest B.J. Novak interjected briefly, warning that producers might cut Cohen off. Despite the attempts to dampen the exchange, Cohen’s remarks and the hosts’ reactions remained on camera long enough to be clipped and shared across social platforms.
Viewers on social media quickly highlighted Cooper’s visible discomfort and deadpan refrain “I’m out,” turning the interaction into a widely shared meme moment. Earlier in the broadcast, a separate tipsy exchange in which Cohen and Cooper joked about sharing a bed and riffed on a mock romance concept also circulated online and drew substantial engagement.
Analysis & Implications
The incident underscores the challenges broadcasters face when live entertainment formats intersect with current affairs. A show designed to celebrate New Year’s Eve and avoid politics became a platform for improvised criticism, raising questions about editorial boundaries and the degree to which hosts shoulder responsibility for spontaneous on-air political commentary. Networks typically rely on a combination of delay mechanisms and producer oversight to limit such moments, but live celebrations reduce those safeguards.
Cohen’s mischaracterization about a presidential pardon highlights how on-air slips can spread misinformation rapidly, even when corrected or clarified later. The legal fact—that charges were dismissed with prejudice on April 2, 2025—is not the same as a pardon, and conflating the two can distort public understanding of judicial outcomes. For viewers seeking clarity, that distinction matters for assessing accountability and the finality of legal proceedings.
For CNN the episode presents reputational considerations: a moment of hosts’ chemistry and humor that boosted engagement can also invite criticism about professionalism and fact-checking. Advertisers and audiences who expect a politics-free celebratory broadcast may see such deviations as misaligned with the show’s stated tone. At the same time, viral visibility can increase short-term attention metrics, complicating any single judgment about the net effect.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Years co-hosting | 9 consecutive New Year’s Eve broadcasts |
| Clip engagement | One earlier tipsy banter clip topped ~700,000 views |
| Mayor transition | Eric Adams (65) → Zohran Mamdani (34) at 12:00 a.m., Jan. 1, 2026 |
The table summarizes key verifiable figures tied to the broadcast and its aftermath. While social media view counts indicate public interest, they do not alone measure sentiment or long-term impact. Viewer engagement on platforms can spike around shareable moments even when those moments generate criticism or corrections afterward.
Reactions & Quotes
“Oh no. I’m out.”
Anderson Cooper, CNN co-host
Cooper’s short, repeated remark framed his attempt to cease Cohen’s political pivot and became a focal point of audience reaction as clips spread online.
“They’re going to cut you off!”
B.J. Novak, guest
Novak’s interjection was an effort to defuse the segment and remind Cohen of broadcast constraints and producer control in a live setting.
“He got his pardons.”
Andy Cohen, host
Cohen’s line—later shown to be a misstatement—triggered follow-up commentary because it conflated a judicial dismissal with an executive pardon.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Cohen’s speech patterns were caused by intoxication rather than fatigue or theatrical emphasis is not independently verified from available footage.
- Any suggestion that the on-air exchange was scripted or prearranged has not been substantiated by network statements or production sources.
Bottom Line
The exchange between Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper during CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast is a reminder that live television blurs entertainment and public discourse, sometimes producing moments that attract both amusement and scrutiny. A host’s offhand or inaccurate comment—like Cohen’s reference to a “pardon”—can spread quickly and requires prompt clarification to prevent misunderstanding about legal facts. Networks must balance the spontaneity that drives engagement with basic editorial checks, especially when political figures are mentioned.
For viewers and media managers alike, the key takeaways are clear: live specials will continue producing viral moments, those moments can cut both ways for reputations and ratings, and factual precision remains essential even in ostensibly light‑hearted programming. Watch for any follow-up statements from CNN or the hosts that could provide additional context or corrections.
Sources
- The Daily Beast — news report on the broadcast and viral clip.
- CNN — network broadcast (media outlet) and program pages for New Year’s Eve Live.
- NYC.gov — official New York City site for mayoral transition and municipal office information.