Rumors Swirl That Anderson Cooper Wants to Bring on Andy Cohen to Co-Host New Year’s Eve

Following the release of a graphic photo showing comedian Kathy Griffin holding up a model of President Donald Trump’s severed head, CNN announced that Griffin would no longer serve as co-host of the network’s New Year’s Eve broadcast. The night before CNN made that decision, anchor Anderson Cooper, who has been Griffin’s longtime partner on the NYE broadcasts, took to Twitter to condemn Griffin and the image:

For the record, I am appalled by the photo shoot Kathy Griffin took part in. It is clearly disgusting and completely inappropriate.

— Anderson Cooper (@andersoncooper) May 31, 2017

Well, according to Page Six, sources claim that not only does Griffin feel “betrayed” by Cooper for not sticking up for her, but that Cooper is pushing to bring on a close friend to take over Griffin’s old role.

“Kathy totally misjudged this,” a source told Page Six. “She truly believed that Anderson would stick up for her. She considered him a friend. While she has nobody to blame but herself, she feels somehow betrayed.” During her press conference yesterday to discuss the backlash over the photo, she stated that she believed her career was over, claiming the president had broken her.

Meanwhile, rumors are swirling at the network that Cooper wants his network to tap Bravo’s Andy Cohen to replace Griffin.

The source said, “Anderson wants Andy to co-host with him. They are already doing a multi-city tour together, they are besties and have a great rapport.” Cohen revealed that they were set up on a blind date in the early ’90s, but Cooper says Cohen blew it during their initial phone call by being “too enthusiastic.” They were later introduced by mutual friends in LA and their platonic bromance blossomed.

As Page Six noted, Cohen may have some contract issue to work through to make this happen.

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Justin Baragona on Twitter: @justinbaragona

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