After Cohen, 54, notably dissed Seacrest live on air during last year’s New Year’s Eve broadcast, the American Idol host, 48, joked about potential remaining tension between the two, claiming that Cohen snubbed him during the recent NYE celebration over the weekend. On the Tuesday, Jan. 3, episode of Live with Kelly and Ryan, Seacrest explained that his set up for hosting ABC’s Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve this year was less than 10 feet away from the CNN program hosted by Cohen and Anderson Cooper. “It was funny because my big stage was right in front of Anderson and Andy, and so when I was not working, I was trying to get their attention,” he recounted. “I thought maybe I was in the shot. I just wanted to wave and say ‘hi.’ You know, they have a great show.” “And you know, Anderson, the best, he turns around he says, ‘Have a good show,’” Seacrest recalled to Ripa, calling Cooper’s gesture, “Class.” However, the same couldn’t be said for Cohen, as Seacrest then added, “Andy did not turn around,” which garnered a roar of laughter from the audience. But Ripa, 52, quickly shut down her co-host’s version of the story, insisting, “That’s not true. [Cohen] said he was trying to get your attention.” Seacrest appeared surprised by the revelation, but still went on to further show the audience how he was trying to get noticed by Cohen, to no avail. Whether or not it has any credibility, Seacrest’s claim of getting snubbed by Cohen likely doesn’t come as a surprise, considering the two broadcasters had some tension last New Year’s Eve after the Bravo star trashed Seacrest’s show live on air after having a little too much to drink. “If you look behind me, you’ll see Ryan Seacrest’s group of losers performing,” he said at the time. “I’m sorry but if you’re watching ABC, you’re watching nothing.” Cohen later apologized for his drunken rant, stating, “The only thing is that I slammed the ABC broadcast and I really like Ryan Seacrest and he’s a great guy. I really regret saying that, and I was just stupid and drunk and feeling it.” To prevent a similar situation from happening again, CNN reportedly imposed a drinking ban for their broadcast last weekend, which Seacrest was in full support of. “I don’t advocate drinking when one is on the air,” he said in an interview last week, as Parade reported. “I don’t know how that started as a tradition but it’s probably a good idea [to scale back], CNN.” While talking directly about Cohen and Anderson’s broadcast last year, Seacrest credited all the drama to the fact that they were drinking at the time. “I think they had something to say about my show at one point, which was I’m sure from the alcohol,” he explained. “I don’t think they would say what they said about our performers if they weren’t drinking.” Despite CNN’s alcohol limit, Cohen later said that he would still be “partying” on NYE, although there didn’t end up being any drunken behavior like last year’s show. What a perfect way to start 2023 off on the right foot!
