Comedian Roy Wood Jr. firmly sidestepped the tradition of indulging in tequila on-air during CNN’s live New Year’s Eve special, a custom avidly practiced by hosts Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. In the midst of ringing in 2025, the hosts generously poured for their comedy panel guests, amongst whom were Amber Ruffin and Michael Ian Black. Though both Ruffin and Black warmly accepted the offer, Wood Jr. adopted a definitively teetotaler attitude.
Without missing a beat, Wood denied the offer, stating, ‘Oh, no. No, no, I don’t.’ His swift refusal seemed to stem from a genuine concern, as he noted a worrisome precedence, ‘The last Black man that drank on this network got fired. I’m going to keep it with water for right now. I need some stability.’ This comment was seemingly a reference to the unfortunate fate of former CNN host, Don Lemon.
Don Lemon, once a CNN mainstay, was abruptly shown the door in 2023 after he commented irrationally that Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was no longer ‘in her prime.’ Additionally, he criticized Haley for her imagined age bias against President Joe Biden, a point that many considered a forced narrative. As expected, this remark did not sit well in the public eye, and despite his apology, the damage was done.
Contrary to what one might expect, Wood’s act of declining the celebratory drink did not cause a ripple on the show. Following his unceremonious ousting from CNN, Lemon achieved a settlement with the network in 2024. Earlier, Lemon had taken legal action against eccentric billionaire Elon Musk, post the network’s dismissal of his proposed program, ‘The Don Lemon Show.’
Defiantly rationalizing his turn of events, Lemon stated, ‘I didn’t lose my job,’ and further added, ‘My job lost me.’ Such incidents, while stirring some controversy, weren’t novel for the New Year’s Eve broadcast. Indeed, a ban followed the 2021 event on the free consumption of alcohol on-site, as a response to similar controversies.
In what seems an illustration of the pendulum of policies, by 2023, events involving alcohol resurfaced on the televised program. During an interview for the CNN New Year’s Eve special, a DJ made a rather shocking revelation that he was currently experimenting with LSD.
A host inquired, in an attempt for lighthearted conversation, ‘I’m curious, what is the most conventional place you’ve done LSD?’ Quick with his response, the DJ replied, ‘Right now.’ Adding to the intrigue, he disclosed, ‘Yeah, I did some on the helicopter, on the way here,’ leaving the host in fits of laughter.
Persisting with his shocking revelation, the DJ said, ‘I’m not even lying.’ He added a rather vague description of his experience, describing it as a ‘light trip’. Eyebrows were already raised at this point, and the event was veering off the traditional script with every passing moment.
This was further amplified with the bold and brazen words of comedian Whitney Cummings, who wasted no time in taking shots at President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. During the event, Cummings put forth a rather sharp commentary on how the Presidential election had ‘fried our brains’.
Her argument was based on the notion that ‘Democrats couldn’t hold a primary because they were too busy holding a body upright.’ This slightly coded language seemingly parroted the ongoing murmur about the current president’s health, milking it in the guise of light-hearted comedy.
She went on to express her disapproval at how the Democratic party did not allow any dynamism in their presidency race. ‘It was amazing that the pro-choice party didn’t give their voters one when it came to the presidential candidate,’ Cummings continued, launching another attack.
As for Vice President Kamala Harris, Cummings spared no mercy, suggesting that her selection as Vice President was not by choice, but rather a forceful imposition. ‘Kamala was forced on us so hard, you’d think she was patented by Pfizer or Moderna… oh god,’ she quipped, even entwining the pharmaceutical companies responsible for the Covid-19 vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, in her sarcasm.
This unprecedented New Year’s Eve celebration thus was a spectacle of unexpected turn of events, where Gotham-styled roasts were unleashed on prime-time television, painting a not-so-flattering picture of our political leaders. It not only remains a testament to the precarious relationship between politics and entertainment but also serves as a stark reminder of the democratic values that often end up being overlooked.
In an event designed to foster a sense of unity and celebrate the onset of a new year, the underlying statements and incidents seemed both a reflection and a critique of the society we inhabit. From the haunting image of the cost of speaking out to the blatant disapproval of a democratic process, all unfolded within a few hours, underneath a sky filled with fireworks and filled with hope for a truly ‘Happy New Year’.