New York, NY – May 29, 2025, 06:04 AM ET – A private meeting among Fox News’ The Five co-hosts Dana Perino, Greg Gutfeld, and Jesse Watters took a dramatic turn yesterday when Watters angrily stormed out, leaving the discussion in disarray. The trio had gathered at Perino’s Manhattan home on the evening of May 28, 2025, to address critical matters regarding the show’s direction amid a shifting media landscape, but deep-seated tensions over creative control and political messaging led to the abrupt exit.
The meeting, intended to be a strategic planning session, was called to address The Five’s evolving role following Jeanine Pirro’s departure earlier in May 2025 to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia under President Trump. Sources close to the team revealed that the agenda included discussions on how to maintain the show’s top ratings—averaging 4.6 million viewers in Q1 2025, as reported by Fox News Media—and how to better engage younger audiences through digital platforms, a priority for Fox as competitors like CNN lag behind with shows like Anderson Cooper 360 at 147,000 viewers in 2024.
Tensions arose when Gutfeld, known for his sharp wit and host of the late-night hit Gutfeld!, proposed a bolder, more satirical approach to the show’s format, emphasizing humor over traditional debate. Perino, a former White House Press Secretary and the group’s more measured voice, pushed back, advocating for a balance that wouldn’t alienate the show’s core conservative audience. Watters, host of Jesse Watters Primetime, reportedly grew frustrated as the discussion veered into a critique of his on-air style, which some have labeled as overly provocative. According to an insider, Gutfeld pointedly remarked, “Jesse, we can’t keep dancing on the line of cancellation with your frat-bro antics—ratings are high, but so are the risks,” referencing Watters’ past controversies, like his 2023 comments at an insurance conference that sparked backlash over culture-war rhetoric.
Feeling targeted, Watters reportedly snapped, “I’m the one pulling in viewers with real talk, not your snarky monologues or Dana’s safe takes!” He then grabbed his jacket and stormed out, leaving Perino and Gutfeld stunned. The clash echoes their on-air dynamic, where playful jabs often mask deeper professional rivalries—like Gutfeld’s 2024 trolling of Watters’ book rankings or their 2024 debate on The Five about fatherlessness and crime, where Gutfeld dismissed Watters’ argument as unhelpful.
The incident has sparked buzz on X, with fans divided. One user posted, “Jesse walking out on Dana and Greg? That’s the fiery energy I watch The Five for!” Another countered, “Watters needs to grow up—Gutfeld and Perino are trying to save the show, not tank it.” Fox News issued a brief statement: “Creative differences are part of what makes The Five dynamic. The team remains committed to delivering top-tier content.” However, the episode raises questions about the show’s future cohesion as it navigates a post-Pirro era.
Perino and Gutfeld reportedly stayed late to salvage the meeting, focusing on integrating more youth-oriented segments, possibly inspired by Gutfeld’s Fox Nation show What Did I Miss?, which debuted successfully on May 12, 2025. Meanwhile, Watters’ abrupt departure has left fans wondering if he’ll address the drama on his primetime show tonight. As The Five continues to dominate cable news, this behind-the-scenes clash reveals the challenges of balancing egos, innovation, and audience expectations in a high-stakes media environment.