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Ryan Seacrest is claiming that Andy Cohen ignored his attempts to get his attention while the two hosted their competing 2022 New Year’s Eve broadcasts.
Andy and Ryan have been taking not-so-subtle jabs at one another in the press for some time now. Andy drunkenly called Ryan and his Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve crew a “bunch of losers” last year, leading CNN to implement a moratorium regarding on-air alcohol consumption during the 2022 CNN New Year’s Live broadcast.
While hosting his morning talk show with Kelly Ripa, Live with Ryan and Kelly, the American Idol host recounted how he had tried to say hello in-between segments of their respective NYE specials. Ryan made sure to note he was hard to miss on his “big stage.”
“It was funny because my big stage was right in front of Anderson [Cooper] and Andy,” Ryan told Kelly. “When I was not working, I was trying to get their attention.”
He further explained that he believed he was in a couple of their shots, and he tried to wave to Andy and co-host Anderson Cooper, but he claimed Anderson was the only one to acknowledge him.
“I thought maybe I was in the shot. I just wanted to wave and say hi,” he said, adding that CNN has a “great show.”
Ryan continued, “And Anderson, the best. He turns around and he says, ‘Have a good show.’ Very nice. Andy did not turn around.”
However, Kelly, who shares a close friendship with Andy, denied that the Watch What Happens Live host purposefully ignored him and further tried to engage with Ryan.
“That’s not true. He said he was trying to get your attention,” Kelly refuted.
Where Ryan and Andy’s friendship stands at this point is still a bit murky. After last year’s fiasco, Andy apologized to Ryan for his on-air rant, calling it his “only regret” and dubbing Ryan a “great guy.”
In contrast, in the days leading up to New Year’s Eve 2022, the two traded thinly veiled barbs during promotional interviews. Notably, Ryan shaded Andy and praised CNN’s 2022 NYE alcohol ban in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.
“There’s some pretty respectable people or at least one, right?” Ryan quipped, seemingly referring to Andy and Anderson. “I think there’s a serious journalist and then a friend of mine who has a lot of fun, but it’s probably a good idea.”