The former CNN boss, Chris Licht, reportedly narrowly avoided running into his ex-anchor, Don Lemon, at Mediaite’s 15th anniversary party at Bryant Park Grill. This party, which was meant to be a celebration of the media industry, turned into an event full of awkward encounters and interesting interactions. Licht infamously let Lemon go last year before facing his own ousting in a Warner Bros. Discovery shake-up. Despite this, Licht did make an appearance at the party and mingled with other CNN staffers. However, some of CNN’s on-air talent were less than thrilled to see Licht and actively avoided him throughout the evening.
The party was described as a media love-in, with Mediaite founder Dan Abrams and editor-in-chief Aidan McLaughlin at the helm. Despite the tension between Licht and some of the CNN talent, there were also moments of cross-network comity. Joe Scarborough and Steve Doocy, representing MSNBC and Fox News respectively, greeted each other in a temporary truce. Scarborough even pulled Doocy over for a photo, showcasing a rare moment of camaraderie between the rival networks.
Throughout the evening, various media personalities were spotted engaging in conversations and networking with their peers. Megyn Kelly caught up with former Fox colleague Julie Banderas, while Bill O’Reilly took the time to talk to CNN’s anchors. Geraldo Rivera was seen hanging out with Sunny Hostin and Jim Acosta, showcasing a mix of personalities from different networks coming together for a common cause.
The event also saw the presence of other prominent industry figures such as Ben Sherwood, Pat Kiernan, Ari Melber, Abby Phillip, Andrew Ross Sorkin, John Berman, and Elie Honig. These individuals added to the overall ambiance of the party, creating an environment where media professionals could come together and share their experiences and insights.
Mediaite’s 15th-anniversary party was a mix of awkward encounters, friendly interactions, and meaningful conversations among industry professionals. Despite the tensions and rivalries that exist within the media industry, events like these serve as a reminder that at the end of the day, we are all part of the same industry striving to inform and engage audiences.