FIGHTING WORDS

Anderson Cooper Blasts Star Jones For Calling His Coming Out A Ratings Stunt

Anderson Cooper may seem like one cool, calm and collected cat—but you do not want to question his integrity.

Taping a segment of his talk show with Bravo personality Andy Cohen, Cooper revealed how galled he was that former daytime-TV personality Star Jones called his coming out this summer an attempt at garnering ratings.

When Cohen asked if anything has changed for Cooper since he disclosed his sexuality in July, the Silver Fox replied, “I will say, and I actually haven’t mentioned this, the only thing that did kind of annoy me—and actually it annoyed my mom, who brought it up to me—[was] Star Jones of all people. I haven’t thought about Star Jones in I don’t know how long. I was unaware she was even on TV still … but she apparently shows up on a morning show. Out of the blue Star Jones … said this was a ratings ploy by me to boost ratings.”

On the episode of Anderson Live airing today, Cooper says Jones has her head up her ass. (Well, in more polite terms.) “If I was wanting to boost ratings, I would have waited to announce it on ‘A Very Special Episode’ that would have been promo’d for weeks and weeks and there would have been commercials  [for] ‘Anderson’s Huge Announcement!”

In reality, Cooper discussed being gay in an email to fellow journalist Andrew Sullivan, who posted the note online with Cooper’s permission.

Perhaps most shocking of all is the fact that Jones turned down an offer to appear on Anderson Live and discuss her comments. “I would think she would want as much publicity as possible,” said Cooper. “Given her penchant for wanting publicity.”

Hmm, sounds like this fox has fangs.

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