Andy Cohen Claps Back At Botox Claims After New Year’s Eve Broadcast

Andy Cohen is clearing the air after social media lit up with speculation about his appearance during CNN’s annual New Year’s Eve broadcast. Following his appearance alongside longtime co-host Anderson Cooper on CNN’s “New Year’s Eve Live from Times Square,” the “Watch What Happens Live” host addressed rumors that he had gone under the knife ahead of the holiday special. Taking to Threads on Thursday, Andy Cohen shut down the chatter with a blunt explanation.

“Did the smallest amount of Botox and lost 20 pounds! And had a lot of makeup on,” Cohen wrote.

His comment came in direct response to a fan post that questioned his appearance after seeing clips from the broadcast. “I just saw the new clips of Andy Cohen on NYE and WTF did he do to his face?!? Is he trying to find a new husband at Mar-a-Lago?” the user wrote.

Cohen has never been shy about discussing cosmetic procedures, including his own. In 2025, he openly admitted to trying Botox for the first time during the “Married to Medicine” Season 11 reunion in March.

“I just got it for the first time in my life,” Cohen told Dr. Contessa Metcalfe during the reunion. When asked how recently he’d had the treatment, he replied, “About a month ago. They gave me a little.”

Andy Cohen’s annual New Year’s Eve broadcast alongside Anderson Cooper has become a viral event in its own right, and not always for the reasons CNN likely intends. Each year, clips from “New Year’s Eve Live” flood social media, with viewers dissecting everything from the hosts’ banter to their appearance, tone, and on-air behavior.

While many fans tune in specifically for Cohen and Cooper’s chemistry, that looseness has also landed them in hot water. In past years, both hosts faced backlash after appearing visibly intoxicated during the live broadcast, prompting criticism from viewers who felt the celebration crossed into unprofessional territory.

The controversy peaked after Cohen openly admitted to drinking during earlier broadcasts, leading CNN to implement stricter alcohol policies for the show in subsequent years. “This is CNN, not Bravo,” a source told a Hollywood insider. “What works on reality TV doesn’t belong on a serious news network.”

Cohen’s latest New Year’s Eve controversy came during a moment that was supposed to be lighthearted. While hosting “New Year’s Eve Live,” Cohen and Anderson Cooper were briefly joined by “The Office” alum B.J. Novak, but the vibe shifted quickly once Cohen turned his attention to outgoing New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

After calling Adams’ time in office “chaotic,” Cohen launched into an unscripted rant that caught both the audience and his co-hosts off guard. “Great, you got your pardons. Go off into the sunset,” Cohen said on air. “We’ll fiddle with what we have, with what you’ve left us with.”

He didn’t stop there. “Go dance away,” Cohen continued. “We’ll see you at all the parties. You’ve partied your way through four years.”

As Cohen pressed on, Novak and Cooper appeared visibly uncomfortable, attempting to interrupt and redirect the moment, but to no avail. According to the network insider, the reaction behind the scenes was immediate. “That moment changed everything,” the source said. “Staff were mortified. The secondhand embarrassment was real.”

Sources noted the incident landed poorly, given years of internal complaints about excessive alcohol consumption and Cohen’s increasingly “unpredictable behavior” during live broadcasts. “The optics are terrible,” another insider claimed. “Andy adds no value to a brand that wants to be respected.”

Concerns were reportedly heightened by broader financial pressures at CNN’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, which has been navigating restructuring discussions. “When a company is considering restructuring, you don’t keep liabilities,” one media executive said bluntly. “You clean house.”

At this time, CNN has not publicly addressed the on-air moment or indicated whether it will impact Cohen’s future with the network.