CNN’s ‘New Year’s Eve Live’: Controversial Moments Through the Years

Not long after Anderson Cooper started hosting CNN’s New Year’s Eve coverage from Times Square in 2002, the news program often became the news.

In 2007, Kathy Griffin joined as the journalist’s official cohost. While the unlikely duo brought the laughs, Griffin made waves annually for her dirty jokes and cursing. Still, the network stood by her — until May 2017 when Griffin came under fire for posing with a fake severed head of then-President Donald Trump.

After Cooper tweeted that he was “appalled by the photo shoot,” calling it “clearly disgusting and completely inappropriate,” the network cut ties with Griffin.

Cooper continued to keep the coverage light by teaming up with pal Andy Cohen as his official cohost for the 2017-18 broadcast — and the twosome began their tradition of taking shots to celebrate the show.

A few years later, Cohen made headlines during the 2021-22 broadcast when he threw shade at Mayor Bill de Blasio and Ryan Seacrest. The outburst resulted in an alcohol ban for one year for both Cooper and Cohen.

Scroll through for the most-talked-about moments from the broadcast over the years: