Gayle King is catching online heat after posting a selfie with who some are saying is the last person she should’ve entertained.
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Fox News hose Jesse Watters two happened to be on the same flight as King Monday (Oct. 20), and King snapped a quick photo to share on social media. Since it’s apparently all deeper than just a selfie, the post prompted outrage from people online.
Watters is no stranger to controversy, especially for his outrageous comments about former Vice President Kamala Harris. Last year, Watters caught heavy criticism for his remarks made on the panel show, “The Five.”
“We don’t know who she is, we don’t know what she believes in,” Watters said. “She’s going to get paralyzed in the situation room when the generals have their way with her.” Immediately, the panel didn’t agree with his choice of words and tried to clarify by saying, “Not in a sexual way.” Alright, sir – the damage is already done.
King, the “CBS Mornings” co-host, couldn’t pass up the chance to snap a photo with the controversial host, smiling alongside Watters. King shared that they were seated together for a four-hour flight, joking that the two “TV people from competing networks” were trying to make the best of it.
“Speaking for @jessewatters here: A good time was had by all! Hi, Jesse … saving your number!” King wrote in her Instagram caption.
Some might consider this a “water under the bridge” moment, recalling their 2019 incident when Watters mistakenly referred to King as “Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts.
Social media was not thrilled to see Oprah’s bestie make the tone-deaf move of snapping a photo with Watters. It didn’t take long before posts about King began trending online.
“Why would you even post this?” one posted under the viral photo.
“These are all…choices…” journalist and influencer Danielle Young wrote on Instagram.
“Oprah’s tone deaf bestie not reading the room,” one Bluesky user wrote.
Even rapper Talib Kweli chimed in: “Nah Gayle this ain’t it.”
In an eye-opening post, another Bluesky user posted: “Trying to impress Bari Weiss.”
There might be a point with the Weiss crack: The backlash comes at a sensitive time for King, with her future at the network in the air following the arrival of CBS News head Bari Weiss.
According to The Post, Weiss invested in Paramount Skydance, which has been working to stabilize CBS News amid staff concerns about potential layoffs that could affect King and fellow anchor Norah O’Donnell. And get this – King’s lucrative $13 million to $15 million annual contract is set to expire in May, and her future at the network is on the line.
Some believe Weiss may be reshuffling the morning and evening lineups, potentially sending McDonnell back to “CBS Morning,” – a shift that could leave King without a seat at the table. Yikes!
One X user called out the move, writing: “Gayle has to capitulate to the center. She’s been smiling more on “CBS Mornings” and not taking multiple days off a week. CBS doesn’t want to pay her $11 million a year. She’ll be gone by the end of the year.”
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