Roy Wood Jr., while appearing on CNN’s New Year’s Eve show, delivered a pointed jab at former CNN anchor Don Lemon, referencing Lemon’s controversial firing from the network earlier that year. During the festivities, co-host Andy Cohen offered shots of tequila to his guests. While fellow comedians Michael Ian Black and Amber Ruffin accepted, Wood declined, quipping, "The last Black man to drink on this network got fired." He followed up by stating he’d "stick with water" for "stability," a clear allusion to Lemon’s past on-air behavior, particularly during New Year’s Eve broadcasts. Wood’s remark hung in the air, prompting an awkward shift in topic from Cohen and a visible reaction from Anderson Cooper, while Wood himself smirked at his own audacious joke.
The context of Wood’s joke lies in Lemon’s history of animated, and at times, unruly, conduct during CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage. Prior to being fired, Lemon was known for his on-air antics, fueled, in part, by alcohol consumption. One infamous incident involved Lemon getting his ear pierced live on air after the ball dropped in 2016. In another instance, in 2021, a visibly inebriated Lemon declared himself a "grown-a** man" with a right to share his opinions on television. These incidents, and likely others, led to former CNN CEO Chris Licht implementing a ban on on-air drinking for talent, with the notable exception of Cooper and Cohen.
Lemon’s firing from CNN in 2023 was abrupt and, from Lemon’s perspective, unceremonious. He expressed his shock and disappointment at learning of his termination through his agent rather than directly from network management, publicly criticizing CNN for the perceived lack of professional courtesy. This dismissal, coupled with Lemon’s previous New Year’s Eve escapades, provided rich fodder for Wood’s joke. It’s worth noting that this wasn’t Wood’s first time using Lemon’s firing as comedic material. At the 2023 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Wood had also joked about Lemon’s departure, suggesting that Lemon was fired because he "can’t even accurately report a story about Don Lemon."
The incident on CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast highlights the complex intersection of humor, current events, and personal history. Wood’s joke, while delivered with comedic timing, touched upon a sensitive topic, particularly given the backdrop of Lemon’s controversial exit from CNN. The awkward reaction from Cohen and Cooper suggests an awareness of the joke’s potentially inflammatory nature and a desire to quickly move past it. Wood’s smirk, however, indicates a certain level of satisfaction, perhaps even a touch of mischievousness, in having landed such a pointed barb on live television.
Since his departure from CNN, Lemon has launched "The Don Lemon Show," a platform on social media where he continues to share his opinions. However, his post-CNN career has not been without controversy. Recently, Lemon found himself embroiled in another public spat, unleashing a profanity-laced tirade on his show regarding the political debate surrounding H1-B visas. This incident further underscores Lemon’s tendency towards outspoken and often provocative commentary, a characteristic that arguably contributed to both his success and his downfall at CNN.
The exchange between Wood and Cohen on New Year’s Eve serves as a microcosm of the broader media landscape, where humor and controversy frequently collide. Wood’s joke, seemingly spontaneous and yet pointedly targeted, highlighted the lingering impact of Lemon’s dismissal from CNN. It also underscored the evolving nature of comedy in the age of social media, where a single quip can quickly go viral, sparking both laughter and debate. While Wood’s joke may have been a fleeting moment in a festive broadcast, it resonated with a larger narrative surrounding Lemon’s career and his controversial departure from one of the world’s most prominent news networks.
