Hollywood power couple Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones have publicly dismissed rumours that they are boycotting the CNN network. The speculation arose following a viral television appearance by their son, Dylan Douglas, which sparked a flurry of online debate.
The Source of the Boycott Speculation
The rumours began after columnist Rob Shuter claimed in a Substack post on Saturday that the A-list pair were "fuming at CNN" for what they perceived as putting their son in a disadvantageous position. Shuter suggested the couple were at "'never again, blacklist the whole network' levels of furious." This was in relation to Dylan's appearance on the CNN programme NewsNight back on November 11.
During that segment, Dylan, 25, an Ivy League graduate and host of the SiriusXM show Young Americans, engaged in a spirited exchange with conservative commentator Scott Jennings, 48. The debate centred on responsibility for a government shutdown, then in its 42nd day. The consensus among many conservative social media users was that Jennings had dominated the discussion.
Official Denials from the Stars' Camp
These claims of a family boycott have been firmly rejected by representatives for the Oscar-winning actors. A spokesperson for Catherine Zeta-Jones told Entertainment Weekly on Tuesday that "the rumor that Catherine and Michael are boycotting CNN is news to them." The spokesperson added that Douglas, 81, and Zeta-Jones, 56, "support accurate reporting, which this rumor isn't."
Separately, a representative for Michael Douglas stated to the publication that the Wall Street Oscar-winner has "no problem with going on or watching CNN." These clarifications put to rest the growing speculation about the couple's stance towards the news network.
Jennings' Reaction and Aftermath
The debate fallout continued when Jennings appeared on Meghan McCain's Citizen McCain podcast this past Monday. Asked about the rumours that Dylan's famous parents were upset, Jennings said he "was surprised" by the reports. He described Dylan as "really nice" off-camera and said the young man seemed honoured to be on CNN.
Jennings characterised their on-air clash as a "normal kind of exchange" where Dylan made his points and he, Jennings, dismantled them. He suggested Dylan's perceived shortcomings were due to living in a liberal bubble, stating, "They don't really get outside of their bubble where everyone's telling them how smart and good looking they are." In a lighter moment, Jennings quipped he was "more than willing to apologize personally to Catherine Zeta-Jones over a nice seafood dinner."
The incident highlights the intense scrutiny that follows the children of celebrities into the political arena. While the debate itself went viral, the subsequent boycott rumours have been definitively shut down by the Douglas-Zeta-Jones household.
