Greg Gutfeld was met with silence from his "The Five" co-hosts on Monday after making a joke about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's physique. The moment occurred during a segment analyzing the New York Democrat's accent, which some listeners perceived as affected during a recent rally in Memphis, Tennessee.
During the segment, a clip was played of Ocasio-Cortez speaking at a rally supporting US House candidate Justin Pearson. "We cannot afford to leave Tennessee behind," she said, before mentioning other states. Gutfeld then remarked, "She mentions behind six times. And all I’m thinking about is her behind!"
Following Gutfeld's comment, a noticeable pause ensued as the other panelists, including Harold Ford Jr., Dana Perino, Kennedy, and Charles Hurt, offered little reaction. A faint chuckle was heard off-screen from one of the male panelists.
This incident follows past accusations by Ocasio-Cortez against Fox News hosts, including Jesse Watters, of sexualizing her on-air. In January, she stated that Watters had "sexualized" and "sexually harassed" her, accusing him of "horrific, sexually exploitative rhetoric." She cited an instance where Watters allegedly accused her of "wanting to sleep with Stephen Miller."
"The Five," which launched in 2011, has seen significant audience growth, becoming one of the most-watched daily cable news programs. According to Nielsen data, it reaches a substantial number of viewers registered with the Democratic party, reportedly exceeding combined viewership from CNN and MS NOW among that demographic.
The Daily Mail has approached Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Fox News for comment. Ocasio-Cortez has not yet responded to Gutfeld's remarks.
