For years, CNN has had the annual tradition of welcoming New Year’s Day with an hourly countdown towards 12 am with drunk news anchors. This year was no different, with Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper downing a bottle of alcohol on live TV as they awaited the clock to hit midnight. However, viewers were in for a shock when American DJ Diplo, 46, appeared ‘tripping’ on LSD during an interview.
Of course, mild to heavy drug use among DJs and other MCs is not uncommon, so Andy Cohen’s pointed question to Diplo wasn’t that arbitrary. “What’s the most conventional place that you’ve done LSD?” Cohen curiously inquired Major Lazer’s lead member. “Right now. I did some on the helicopter on the way here,” the DJ quickly answered.
The two anchors were astonished that their interviewee was on psychedelic drugs live on television. “You’re tripping right now?” “Yeah,” Diplo nonchalantly replied after going on to explain that he was “micro-dosing” the hallucinogen over time. Intoxicated, the two anchors found the situation more hilarious than shock-worthy, with Cohen following up the short interview by wishing he “was Diplo.” “I just think he has a fun, cool lifestyle. Can you imagine his lifestyle?“
Cohen and Cooper continued to admire the DJ after the initial remarks: “I mean … I feel bad about my own boring life compared to Diplo’s. He’s got helicopters, and he’s like doing things.” Needless to say, many could take such comments the wrong way, as both co-hosts’ net worths are well into the millions. For example, Celebrity Net Worth estimates Anderson’s net worth at $60+ million, which is undoubtedly more than enough to outdo a “boring” lifestyle.
Regardless, many commenters on the internet didn’t take CNN’s New Year’s Eve broadcast of a celebrity “tripping” on LSD live very kindly. One top comment was fuming with disappointment:
“It’s truly shameful that CNN would allow the glorification of drug use on any telecast, live or otherwise. Alcohol as well. I’m so sorry that I wasted time watching (part of) this show last night and not for just those two reasons – it was unwatchable in many ways and far from entertaining. Perhaps I am speaking for many other watchers who saw “guests” who they did not recognize and were not familiar with, who contributed little. Last year’s show was the bomb — this one just bombed.”
Another top comment chimed in, going off on how countless young people are likely watching CNN with their loved ones on New Year’s Eve: “Do we no longer have a filter for the youth watching these people? I’m sure Dips*** is famous among young kids, and that’s how he wants to have the youth see him. Just disgusting.”
A third remarks how not only should CNN and the news anchors be ashamed of promoting drugs on live TV, but they should be just as embarrassed for drinking in front of their audience on air: “They all should be ashamed of themselves!! And CNN should be ashamed of them, too. Anything to think they get ratings but promoting drinking and drugs is just terrible!“
Cohen’s behavior and reaction to Diplo should come as no surprise to anyone. Last year, he commented that he wanted CNN to let him drink even more before going live on the night of New Year’s Eve. Generally speaking, there’s no problem with people drinking alcohol to celebrate the coming of a new year. But it’s easy to see how many see the TV producer’s promotion of excessive drinking live as quite an issue.
That said, planned or not, CNN’s broadcast of “tripping” Diplo has infuriated many, but at least it got people talking about the news outlet on New Year’s.
