Roy Wood Jr. refuses to drink tequila with Andy Cohen on CNN and recalls the firing of Don Lemon

Roy Wood Jr. showed how sharp his mind is whilst on CNN during the New Years coverage as he refused to drink alcohol on television, recalling what happened to Don Lemon in the past.

Wood Jr. was a guest on CNN's New Years Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen and the former Daily Show star opted against drinking some tequila when offered, because he did not want to lose his job.

"Oh, no!" Wood Jr. said while his Have I Got News For You co-stars, Michael Ian Black and Amber Ruffin, accepted the tequila shot. "No, I don't. The last Black man that drank on this network got fired. I'm going to keep it with water for right now. I need some stability."

There was little specific response to what Wood Jr. had said and the program moved swiftly on. It was clear that he was referring to Don Lemon, a former CNN anchor who used to host New Years Eve Live until he parted ways with the company in 2023.

Lemon's CNN departure

"I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play," Lemon said at the time.

"With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run. They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best."