CNN's flagship New Year's Eve live broadcast from New York's Times Square took an unexpected and chaotic turn this year, as co-host Andy Cohen's increasingly tipsy commentary culminated in a wild on-air rant about outgoing Mayor Eric Adams.
A New Year's Eve Broadcast Descends Into Chaos
The incident unfolded shortly after the iconic ball drop signalled the start of 2025. Andy Cohen, drink in hand, began to critique the "final moments of Mayor Adams's chaotic" tenure. His co-host of nine years, Anderson Cooper, immediately tried to shut him down, uttering "Oh no. I'm out" and attempting to walk out of the camera frame.
Undeterred, Cohen continued, referencing mayoral pardons with a slight slur in his speech. Cooper repeatedly interjected with "Don't" and "I'm out," visibly cringing and uncomfortable as the camera panned to keep them both in shot. Cohen concluded his impromptu monologue by saying, "I'm just saying, great, you got your pardons. Go off into the sunset. We'll fiddle with what we have, with what you've left us with." A resigned Cooper could only add, "He can't help himself."
Hours of Tipsy Banter Set the Stage
The awkward rant was preceded by hours of playful and seemingly alcohol-fuelled banter between the two hosts, which had already captivated viewers on social media. In one particularly memorable exchange, the pair joked about sharing a bed, with Cooper remarking, "Something about sleeping in your bed, it just, I don't know."
The conversation then took a surreal turn when Cohen referenced the romance novel and TV series Heated Rivalry, about a secret affair between two hockey players. Cohen placed his hands on Cooper's chest and back, jokingly assigning them character roles from the show, which left Cooper recoiling in disbelief and saying, "This isn't Heated Rivalry."
Social Media Erupts Over Viral CNN Moment
Clips of both the bed banter and the political rant spread rapidly on social media platform X, amassing hundreds of thousands of views. Viewers were highly amused by the unscripted drama. One user wrote, "The years may change but Andy Cohen railing against the outgoing mayor of NYC stays the same," while another commented, "Andy Cohen drunk af on CNN while Anderson Cooper tries to stay out of the frame is gold."
Many celebrated the return of the hosts' famously loose and informal style. "Wait is that this year? They let them drink again???? That’s hands down the best news of 2025," one viewer exclaimed. Another user posted a GIF of a drunk man falling over with the caption, "Andy by midnight," highlighting the co-host's apparent state.
Despite the chaotic critique, Cohen did offer one piece of credit to the now-former mayor, stating, "But I will say this, I think he maybe dented the rat population" in New York City, a rare positive note in an otherwise blistering send-off.
