Roy Wood Jr takes dig at Don Lemon’s CNN firing as he turns down drink from Andy Cohen on New Year's Eve

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Comedian Roy Wood Jr took a hilarious dig at former CNN host Don Lemon during his appearance on the network’s New Year’s Eve special with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen in Times Square.

It all started when Cohen decided to keep the drinks flowing. Holding up a bottle of tequila, he asked his guests, “Does anybody want a shot?”

While others obliged, Roy — sitting alongside his 'Have I Got News For You' co-stars Michael Ian Black and Amber Ruffin — decided to pass.

Roy Wood Jr’s not-so-subtle dig at Don Lemon

Roy didn’t just say “No, thanks.” He turned the moment into comedy gold. “Oh, no!” he said, shaking his head. “No, I don’t. 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.”

Cohen was visibly caught off guard and quickly changed the subject, trying to steer the conversation away from controversy. Meanwhile, Anderson Cooper took off his glasses and wiped his face — all while Roy sat there smirking like he knew he’d just owned the night.

Roy’s joke was a pretty clear shot at former CNN host Don Lemon, who was let go from the network in 2023 after 17 years. And it's worth noting that this wasn’t the first time Roy has used Lemon’s firing as a punchline.

During the 2023 White House Correspondents’ Dinner, the comedian joked, “Lemon can’t even accurately report a story about Don Lemon.”

Roy later doubled down on his New Year’s quip by revisiting the moment on social media. He posted the clip on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “Not gone catch me slippin' in the Deuce-Five.”

Don Lemon’s wild ride with CNN

Of course, Roy’s joke hits differently when you remember Don Lemon’s legendary New Year’s Eve moments on CNN. Back in 2016, Lemon got a little too festive live on air. He was visibly tipsy, and at one point even got his ear pierced after the ball dropped, the New York Post reported.

Fast forward to 2021, and Lemon was still making waves. That year, he called himself a “grown-a** man” on air, saying he could share his opinions on TV, even if it “freaks people out.”

But those wild moments didn’t sit well with everyone. CNN’s then-CEO Chris Licht eventually banned on-air drinking for most of the network’s talent - except for Cooper and Cohen, who were allowed to keep the tradition alive.

The real shocker came in 2023 when CNN abruptly fired Lemon.

He later shared his frustration: “I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN, I would have thought that someone in management would have the decency to tell me directly.”

Reflecting on his ousting, Lemon told People: "Do I wish that my exit from CNN had been different? Absolutely, but it is what it is, and I can't go back and change the past. I don't have a time machine."

What’s Don Lemon up to now?

These days, Lemon’s carving out his own path. He’s running 'The Don Lemon Show' on social media, where he hasn’t exactly toned things down.

Just recently, he went on an expletive-filled rant about the MAGA world’s outrage over H1-B visas.

“Oh my gosh, I love this. Now you’re finding out, you dumb f**king idiots," he sneered. "Now you’re just figuring this s**t out. You’re so f**king stupid, and you deserve it. And you f**king deserve it because you’re so dumb."

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