Roy Wood Jr. Declines New Year's Eve Toast on CNN, Citing Past Network Incident

Comedian Roy Wood Jr., host of CNN's "Have I Got News For You," opted out of the network's traditional New Year's Eve on-air drinking, making a pointed reference to the departure of a former CNN personality. His remarks, delivered during Tuesday night's broadcast, highlighted a past controversy involving alcohol and the network.

During the live show, co-host Andy Cohen offered shots to the panel. Wood quickly declined, stating, "Oh, no! No, I don’t. The last Black man to drink on this network got fired." He clarified his decision to stick with water and reiterated his position on social media platform X.

Wood’s comment appears to allude to Don Lemon, a former long-time CNN host who was once a fixture of their New Year’s Eve coverage. While Lemon was known for engaging in the event's boisterous celebrations, his departure from CNN in April was unrelated to any alcohol-related incidents.

Lemon's termination came after controversial remarks he made about former presidential candidate Nikki Haley, which sparked accusations of ageism and misogyny. Despite his departure from CNN, Lemon has since launched his own show on YouTube, marking a new chapter in his career.