During CNN's New Year's Eve Live event, Andy Cohen did not hold back about his feelings for now-former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
The host of Watch What Happens Live was co-hosting with CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who appeared to make efforts to restrain Cohen's gusto for criticizing de Blasio.
De Blasio fulfilled his final public obligation as mayor on Friday night by initiating the New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square, and his successor Eric Adams was sworn in as the city's new mayor shortly afterward.
Cohen took aim at de Blasio following the ball drop.
"Just watching Mayor De Blasio doing his victory lap dance after four years of the crappiest job as the mayor of New York," Cohen said, speaking animatedly into the camera.
Cooper, looking uncomfortable, made an attempt to talk Cohen out of the comments, before simply saying "wow."
"The only thing that the Democrats and the Republicans can agree on is what a horrible mayor he has been, so sayonara sucker! 2022!" Cohen said. "It's a new year, and guess what? I have a feeling that I am going to be standing right here next year, and you know what I'm not going to be looking at? Dancing as the city comes apart!"
Cooper patted Cohen on the shoulder in an apparent effort to tamp down his enthusiasm. He made the comments just moments before Adams was formally sworn in as mayor.
Following the ringing of the New Year, De Blasio, a Democrat, danced with his wife, Chirlane McCray, on stage.
He was first elected mayor in 2013, assuming office in 2014, and subsequently reelected in 2017, but he was term limited and could not seek the office a third time in 2021.
.@Andy's incredible, drunken rant about @BilldeBlasio! pic.twitter.com/sFUcQUcJNp
— Kate Aurthur (@KateAurthur) January 1, 2022
Adams, also a Democrat, is the second Black mayor in the history of New York.
He defeated Republican rival Curtis Sliwa in the mayoral election on November 2 winning 67 percent of the vote.
The new mayor told those celebrating the new year in Times Square: "Trust me, we're ready for a major comeback because this is New York."
He was sworn in on his family Bible, which was held by his son, Jordan Coleman. Adams as also holding a photo of his late mother, Dorothy, who passed away last year.
"New York is back," Adams said as he left the stage following the ceremony.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Darragh Roche is a U.S. News Reporter based in Limerick, Ireland. His focus is reporting on U.S. politics. He has ... Read more
