Gayle King's Unexpected Flight Selfie with Jesse Watters Ignites a Fiery Social Media Debate

Talk about an unexpected seatmate! CBS Mornings co-host Gayle King recently found herself next to Fox News' Jesse Watters on a four-hour flight, and her lighthearted selfie post about it has exploded across social media, sparking a massive debate among fans and critics alike.

TL;DR

• Gayle King shared a selfie with Fox News host Jesse Watters after they were unexpectedly seated together on a recent flight.
• The post quickly drew intense backlash from many of King's followers, who criticized her "tone-deaf" friendliness given Watters' controversial public statements.
• The controversy arrives amidst speculation about King's future at CBS News, following major network changes under new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss.

When Two Media Worlds Collide: The Unlikely Flight Encounter

Picture this: You're settling in for a cross-country flight, ready to catch up on some reading or maybe just snooze. Now, imagine you look over and realize your seatmate is a prominent TV personality from a rival network, known for very different views than your own. That's exactly what happened to Gayle King, the beloved co-host of CBS Mornings, this past Monday.

King, ever the communicator, shared the moment with her Instagram followers, posting a smiling selfie alongside Fox News host Jesse Watters. The two, representing "competing networks," found themselves seated next to each other for over four hours. King's caption was light and friendly, suggesting a "good time was had by all" and even joked about "saving your number!"

Gayle King's Instagram Caption:

"Two TV people from competing networks walk on to a plane and to the surprise of them both, they’re seated right next to each other for over four hours. How did it go? Speaking for @jessewatters here: A good time was had by all! Hi, Jesse…saving your number!"

Sounds innocent enough, right? Just two professionals being civil on a plane. Well, the internet had other ideas.

Why the Selfie Sparked Such a Heated Social Media Firestorm

Almost immediately after King's post went live, her comments section and other social media platforms like Bluesky erupted with strong reactions. Many of her liberal-leaning followers were far from amused, expressing shock, disappointment, and even anger at what they perceived as "tone-deaf chumminess."

The core of the backlash stems from Jesse Watters' reputation as a highly controversial figure on Fox News. Critics quickly pointed to his history of making divisive remarks, accusing him of racism, sexism, and peddling misinformation. Comments flooded in, ranging from "Gayle this is NOT IT" and "EWWW" to more pointed accusations like, "All nazi Jesse does is… LIE!" and "Your seat mate, however, is harming our country."

The Echo Chamber Shattered: Critiques and Calls for Deletion

For many of King's fans, seeing her appear so friendly with Watters felt like a betrayal of the values they associate with her and her network. Some urged her to "delete this sis" and called the photo "embarrassing." There was a palpable sense that King wasn't "reading the room," particularly given the current political climate.

One commenter eloquently (or perhaps furiously) summarized the sentiment: "It's one thing to support opposing views. But when the individual loathes, ridicules, lies and vilifies all that you stand for how do you grin and bear it?? It's like grinning for a selfie with the leader of the Proud Boys at a No Kings rally." Others felt it highlighted a disconnect between "rich people" and the average person's concerns, noting they seemed "so out of touch."

A Dive into Jesse Watters' Past Controversial Statements

To understand the depth of the outrage, it's helpful to look at some of the past controversies surrounding Jesse Watters. Over the years, he has drawn fire for:

• Comments on Kamala Harris: In a 2023 segment on "The Five," Watters suggested Harris would get "paralyzed in the situation room when the generals have their way with her," a remark that received widespread condemnation.
• Remarks on Black people/Palestinians: He has been accused of anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian bigotry, reportedly calling Palestinians "uneducated" and a "demographic threat" to Israel.
• UN Controversy: Watters was forced to apologize after controversially suggesting the United Nations should be "gassed" and "bombed."
• "DEI Hire" rhetoric: He is known for rallying against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on his show, leading some to speculate he might label King a "DEI hire."
• "Misogynistic" comments: Earlier this year, he questioned a clip of Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff grocery shopping, asking, "What kind of husband goes grocery shopping with his wife?" which many deemed misogynistic.

It's also worth noting that this isn't the first time King and Watters have had a public interaction. In 2019, Watters famously confused King with Good Morning America anchor Robin Roberts, for which he later apologized on air with a sign that read, "I'm sorry Gayle + Robin."

The Other Side of the Coin: Supporters Praise Civility

While the negative comments dominated, some users stepped forward to defend King and applaud the encounter. These supporters saw the selfie as a refreshing display of civility and a move towards bridging political divides. Comments like "Yes. Let’s normalize GETTING ALONG" and "I think it’s great!!! Two people had a great time together and didn’t put their political beliefs in front of a friendship or flight home! That’s the way it should be!" offered a different perspective.

One fan beautifully articulated this view: "I love how two people with completely opposite political views can end up sitting next to each other on a plane, share a few laughs, talk about where they’re headed, maybe even swap stories about their families — and genuinely get along. It’s a good reminder that kindness, curiosity, and a smile go a lot farther than our differences."

Jesse Watters himself seemed to downplay the incident, reportedly stating on his show that the flight with King was "cool."

Behind the Scenes at CBS News: Is Gayle King's Future Up in the Air?

This social media dust-up comes at a particularly interesting time for Gayle King, as her future at CBS News has been a hot topic of speculation. Earlier this month, major changes were announced at the network with the arrival of Bari Weiss, co-founder of The Free Press, as the new editor-in-chief.

Weiss, brought in by Paramount Skydance, is reportedly planning significant overhauls to CBS News' operations, aiming to "shape editorial priorities, champion core values across platforms, and lead innovation." This has led to widespread fears of potential shake-ups and layoffs among staff, with King and fellow anchor Norah O'Donnell frequently mentioned in these discussions.

Insiders have hinted that King's lucrative annual contract, reportedly between $13 million and $15 million, is set to expire in May, and her standing at the "penny-pinching" network is described as "murky." Some believe Weiss might reshuffle the morning and evening lineups, potentially moving O'Donnell back to CBS Mornings, a move that could leave King "out in the cold."

Accusations of Career Strategy Amidst Network Changes

Against this backdrop, some critics weren't shy about speculating on King's motives for posting the selfie. Accusations arose that King was "trying to impress Bari Weiss" or "capitulate to the center" to secure her position amidst the network's shift. One user speculated, "Gayle has to capitulate to the center. She’s been smiling more on CBS Mornings and not taking multiple days off a week. CBS doesn’t want to pay her $11 million a year. She’ll be gone by the end of the year."

While these are purely speculative comments from social media users, they highlight the added layer of scrutiny King faces as CBS News navigates a period of significant transition. Whether the selfie was a genuine moment of cordiality or a calculated move, it certainly didn't go unnoticed.

The Bigger Picture: Civility vs. Accountability in Media

Ultimately, Gayle King's selfie with Jesse Watters touches on a broader conversation happening in media and society today: the tension between promoting civility and holding public figures accountable for their words and actions. While many yearn for a return to politeness and respectful dialogue across political divides, others argue that some statements and ideologies cross a line, making "just getting along" feel like a compromise of principles.

King has not publicly addressed the extensive discourse surrounding her post. For now, the selfie remains a snapshot of an unexpected encounter that became a potent symbol of these ongoing debates.

FAQ: Your Burning Questions About the Gayle King/Jesse Watters Selfie

What did Gayle King say about her flight with Jesse Watters?

Gayle King posted a selfie on Instagram with Jesse Watters, captioned: "Two TV people from competing networks walk on to a plane and to the surprise of them both, they’re seated right next to each other for over four hours. How did it go? Speaking for @jessewatters here: A good time was had by all! Hi, Jesse…saving your number!" She conveyed a friendly, positive experience.

Why did Gayle King's selfie with Jesse Watters spark so much controversy?

The controversy largely stems from Jesse Watters' history of making highly contentious and often divisive remarks on Fox News, which many of King's followers view as harmful or offensive. Critics felt King's friendly post was "tone-deaf" and ignored the impact of Watters' statements, while others saw it as a positive example of civility.

What is Jesse Watters known for saying that has caused controversy?

Jesse Watters has faced criticism for remarks regarding Kamala Harris (e.g., "paralyzed in the situation room"), comments perceived as anti-Muslim/Palestinian (e.g., calling Palestinians "uneducated" or a "demographic threat"), suggesting the UN be "gassed" or "bombed" (for which he apologized), and expressing misogynistic views (e.g., questioning husbands grocery shopping with wives) among others.

How might this selfie impact Gayle King's career at CBS News?

The selfie comes as CBS News undergoes significant changes under new editor-in-chief Bari Weiss, leading to speculation about potential layoffs and reshuffling. King's contract is set to expire in May, and some social media users speculated her post might have been an attempt to align herself with more conservative figures or impress her new boss amidst these organizational shifts, although this remains unconfirmed speculation.

Sources

Content synthesized from various news outlets provided in the context.