A heated war of words between NewsNation host Chris Cuomo and conservative commentator Megyn Kelly escalated Wednesday, with Cuomo comparing Kelly to a cockroach as their increasingly personal feud spilled across social media.
The clash began earlier this week after Cuomo criticized what he called “sloppy influencers” during a monologue on his show. While making the remarks, he displayed photos of Kelly on-air, a move that appeared to set the stage for the public spat.
Kelly fired back Tuesday on her podcast, The Megyn Kelly Show, unleashing a blistering response. She labeled Cuomo a “douchebag” and mocked his audience size, claiming he had “less viewers than I have fingers.” The remark quickly ignited further exchanges between the two media figures.
Cuomo responded Wednesday on X, taking issue not only with Kelly’s insult but also with her tone. “Get over yourself, little hater. Odd language choice for a mom with young kids. Classy,” Cuomo wrote in response to being called a “douchebag.”
The NewsNation host also pushed back against Kelly’s criticism of a recent speech by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Cuomo defended the progressive lawmaker while taking another swipe at Kelly. “Aoc is young and flawed but there is a reason she would stomp out kelly like a roach in any poll,” he wrote. “Standing for something is better than being about nothing but hate. Remember – she was paid to leave nbc. No one was sad.”
Kelly was quick to respond, escalating the rhetoric. “Probably wasn’t the best idea to poke the bear, Fredo,” she posted, referencing a nickname often associated with Cuomo. She included a clip of herself discussing sexual misconduct allegations made against Cuomo in 2021, signaling she was prepared to revisit past controversies.
Cuomo shot back once more, dismissing Kelly’s remarks as performative outrage. “You think you are the bear? Keep spewing. I will keep laughing at your feigned outrage… at everything and everyone that can get you clicks,” he wrote.
Despite the flurry of online insults, neither host directly addressed the feud during their respective Wednesday broadcasts.
Cuomo avoided mentioning Kelly by name on his NewsNation program that evening. Instead, he focused on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the case that initially served as the catalyst for the dispute between the two personalities. Cuomo also discussed speculation about ESPN host Stephen A. Smith potentially running for president as a Democrat in 2028.
Kelly likewise steered clear of discussing the feud on her Wednesday show. Rather than continuing the personal back-and-forth on-air, she concentrated on developments in the Guthrie disappearance case and Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick’s extensive relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Still, the online exchanges suggest the rivalry between Cuomo and Kelly is far from over. What began as criticism of “sloppy influencers” has morphed into a bitter public fight marked by sharp insults and pointed references to past controversies.
As both media figures command loyal audiences, the clash underscores the increasingly combative tone of today’s political commentary landscape, where personal attacks often take center stage.
