CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was reportedly stunned by his network’s weed-fueled New Year’s Eve coverage, telling a late-night comedian that he was just as “surprised as anybody else” over the outlet’s risqué broadcast, reports Fox News.
Cooper was speaking with “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert when he was asked to comment on his network’s infamous New Year’s Eve show, featuring intoxicated anchors, drunk hosts, and fellow journalist Randi Kaye reporting from a marijuana-themed party.
“Do you still have a contact high from Randi Kaye?” asked Colbert.
“It’s legal in Colorado… she did not smoke, obviously. She was just in the environment,” said Cooper.
“The whole thing surprised me as much as anybody else, I gotta tell you,” he added.
CNN found itself in hot-water New Year’s Day as viewers and readers complained the network took its broadcast too far, saying the cable news outlet was attempting to “trademark the debauchery.”
“CNN is trying to trademark the debauchery as its brand for New Year’s Eve coverage. I mean that quite seriously,” said Media Research Center President Brent Bozell. “So this year they’re doing pot and getting stoned.”