Bakari Sellers Snipes at Scott Jennings During CNN Panel: ‘Can You Not Touch Me?!’

CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers jokingly scolded CNN senior political commentator Scott Jennings on Tuesday after Jennings put his hand on Sellers’ back.

“Listen, comrade,” said Jennings, patting Sellers’ back during a panel debate about the New York City mayoral election.

“Can you not touch me?! Can you not touch me?!” shouted Sellers, before laughing. “I was waiting on that.”

Sellers appeared to be mocking Jennings over a December 2024 moment when Jennings shouted at him for touching him during another CNN NewsNight panel discussion.

“What Scott was not accurate about, which kind of happens around the table sometimes…” said Sellers at the time, tapping Jennings, who protested, “Don’t touch me.”

Sellers questioned, “I can’t touch you now?” before laughing and rubbing Jennings’ back.

“All right, everybody keep your hands to themselves at the table,” ordered host Abby Phillip.

Another touching incident took place on CNN NewsNight in March, this time between Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary and CNN guest Angela Rye.

After O’Leary appeared to touch Rye off-camera during a debate about Elon Musk, Rye protested, “You don’t have to touch me.”

“I did that nicely,” insisted O’Leary, to which Rye shot back, “I don’t want you to touch me. That’s my personal space.”

O’Leary vowed, “I won’t ever do it again.”

Watch above via CNN.

New: The Mediaite One-Sheet "Newsletter of Newsletters"
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!