CNN reporter Randi Kaye, sporting large marijuana leaf styled earrings, lit a bong for a pot smoker during a live report from Denver broadcast on CNN’s New Year’s Eve show Sunday night that was hosted from Times Square by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen. Kaye was also seen several times holding lit joints on air.
Video posted online shows Kaye placing an unlit ‘gas mask’ bong to her face while she is reporting from Denver, where pot is legal on the state level, on a party Cannibus headed to a ‘puff, pass and paint’ party. Kaye then hands the bong to a man who tells Kaye the bong is “stuffed” with cannabis. Kaye is then seen on air lighting the bong for the man.
CNN is literally smoking weed on air and 2018 is already going to be amazing #CNNNYE pic.twitter.com/zImteIPrbO
— Ben McDonald (@Bmac0507) January 1, 2018
Later Kaye does a live remote from the ‘puff, pass and paint’ party where she is holding a lit joint. Kaye then shows a man smoking a pot smoking device called the ‘incredible.’
Video from earlier in the show of Kaye on the bus grabbing a lit joint from someone.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h380WIft-BI
Note: While it is clear a giggling Kaye got a contact buzz, Kaye was not seen directly smoking pot on camera.
While pro-pot people cheered, there was also pushback online as well as astonishment.
https://twitter.com/MindlessRobots/status/947667476527091712
Ok… #CNN redefines the TV news term ‘live hit’ on a pot party bus on #NewYearsEve2018 pic.twitter.com/EKyhigr8ij
— John Fricke (@JohnFricke) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/SanhoTree/status/947668602970361856
#CNN is doing #CNNFakeNews #cnnnewyears from the Pot & Painting Party. Their anchor is wearing marijuana leaf earrings. pic.twitter.com/rv6Qz2mWGI
— Lee Rogers 🐜 (@SethWestmore) January 1, 2018
It's a pot and paint party over at Colorado! Rocky Mountain High is a recreational marijuana dispensary in Denver | #CNNNYE live https://t.co/CaczwF9CtH pic.twitter.com/LAx3M8QscF
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) January 1, 2018
Can someone explain why CNN is showing people smoking weed with a bong??!! My kids are watching this for the ball drop and I had to turn it all off! Obviously, they have no idea what to do with the show without Kathy Griffin.
— Virginia Meagher (@vameagher) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/meganpaasch/status/947687013813141504
Hey, @CNN #NewYearsEve are you fucking kidding. A gas mask bong & promoting weed use? There are children watching. WTF!!!???
— joshua rosner (@JoshRosner) January 1, 2018
https://twitter.com/DanielaPerallon/status/947668119925018625
This is CNN.