Comedian Amy Sedaris ignited a firestorm on social media after making a controversial joke during CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast that left hosts Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper visibly uncomfortable.
The 46-year-old actress and comedian appeared as the first guest on Wednesday night’s live telecast from Times Square.
What was meant to be lighthearted banter quickly turned into an awkward moment that has since divided audiences online.
When asked about the best place to meet a man in 2026, Sedaris responded with a comment that caught everyone off guard. Her answer referenced the ladies’ room, which was met with complete silence from the hosts and crew.
The “Strangers with Candy” star seemed to realize her remark had landed poorly.
She stumbled over her words before attempting to recover by suggesting a different location.
Cohen and Cooper exchanged uncertain looks as the moment unfolded live on national television.
Sedaris quickly redirected the question back to the hosts, offering up a fire station as her revised answer.
Cohen agreed with this second suggestion, and both he and Cooper managed strained smiles as they moved the conversation forward.
The brief exchange quickly spread across social media platforms, where viewers had strong and conflicting opinions about what they had witnessed.
Some criticized the comedian’s “transphobic joke” while others defended her right to invoke “dark humor.”
Multiple users on X questioned the appropriateness of the remark, with several commenters expressing disappointment that such a comment was made on a major network’s New Year’s Eve special.
One social media user suggested the comedian would likely not receive another invitation to appear on the annual broadcast. Another pointed out that the comment was particularly surprising given it was directed at two openly gay hosts.
Sedaris also found supporters online who appreciated her comedic style, however. Some viewers praised what they called her willingness to push boundaries and take risks with her humor.
One defender posted that comedians should be allowed to make jokes without immediate backlash. Others characterized her remark as an example of the type of bold comedy that has become increasingly rare on mainstream television.
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The controversial moment was not the only headline-making incident from CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage.
Later in the broadcast, Cohen himself became the center of attention for different reasons.
Just minutes after the midnight countdown in Times Square, the 57-year-old television host launched into an unexpected criticism of New York City Mayor Eric Adams.
Cooper sat beside him but did little to intervene as Cohen continued speaking.
Cohen referenced the recent legal developments involving the mayor while holding a beverage. He made comments about pardons and suggested Adams should leave his position, though his words were somewhat difficult to follow.
Cooper quietly urged his co-host to stop, but Cohen continued with his remarks about the outgoing mayor and the situation facing the city.
The rant quickly gained attention as another awkward moment from the evening’s broadcast.
Adams responded to Cohen’s comments the following morning with a brief but pointed message. The Democratic mayor told the New York Post “I have two letters for him: AA,” referencing Alcoholics Anonymous with a laugh.
