Sherri Shepherd apologizes for pressuring recovering alcoholic Elizabeth Vargas to drink with her
Sherri producer-host Sherri Shepherd apologized to recovering alcoholic Elizabeth Vargas for twice pressuring her to drink with her during their interview last Thursday on her syndicated daytime talk show.
“I’m going to take you to the bar, we’re going to have a drink, we’re going to have a drink,” says the 56-year-old comedian said in the segment.
The 60-year-old journalist answered awkwardly: “[I’ll] take my classic soda water with cranberry juice, but you can also make some shots.’
Sherri fired back that Elizabeth was “no fun,” adding, “You and me, we’re going to stand at the bar and say, ‘It’s no news tonight!’ That’s what we have to do.’
Later in the interview, Shepherd again suggested we “go to the bar” and “get drunk and have fun” one day after work.
Insensitive: Sherri producer host Sherri Shepherd (R) apologized to recovering alcoholic Elizabeth Vargas (L) for pressuring her twice to drink with her during their interview last Thursday on her syndicated daytime talk show
“You’re getting drunk. I’ll be your designated driver,’ Vargas replied.
The two-time News & Documentary Emmy winner – who drank for anxiety and panic attacks – has been sober since 2014 after three rehab stints between 2013-2014.
Elizabeth currently hosts a bi-monthly addiction podcast called Heart Of The Matter which is sponsored by Partnership to End Addiction.
Vargas – who hosted 20/20 – even told the former View host how “difficult” it was to write her first book in 2016, called Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction.
During the same episode, Sherri happened to perform in a skit where she threw a booze-fuelled office party for her entire staff.
In it, many members of Shepherd’s crew were depicted drinking alcohol, but she was only depicted dancing and blowing a celebratory noisemaker.
“Sherri called to apologize—she was very nice. She just didn’t know. It does not matter. I wasn’t upset at all,” the NewsNation host later recalled OW.
The Daytime Emmy winner also shared a statement with EW: “Sometimes when you do live TV you make mistakes. That happened today during my interview with Elizabeth Vargas and I’m sorry.
The 56-year-old comedian said in the clip: ‘I’m going to take you to the bar, we’re going to drink, we’re going to have a drink’
The 60-year-old journalist answered awkwardly: “[I’ll] take my classic club soda with cranberry juice, but you can hit some shots’
Sherri fired back that Elizabeth was “no fun,” adding, “You and me, we’re going to stand at the bar and say, ‘It’s no news tonight!’ That’s what we gotta do’
Obsessed! Later, Shepherd again suggested we “go to the bar” and “get drunk and have fun” one day after work
“You’re getting drunk. I’ll be your designated driver’: The two-time News & Documentary Emmy winner – who drank for anxiety and panic attacks – has been sober since 2014 after completing three rehabs between 2013-2014
Sobriety Journey: Elizabeth currently hosts a bi-monthly addiction podcast called Heart Of The Matter which is sponsored by Partnership to End Addiction
Vargas – who used to host 20/20 – even told the former View presenter how “difficult” it was to write her first book in 2016, called Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction (pictured in 2017)
“She was very nice about it at the time and on the phone when I called her afterwards to apologize. And she’s looking forward to returning next season.”
There will be at least two more seasons of Sherri as Fox television stations extended her talk show through 2025 on Jan. 11 — according to Variety.
Shepherd — who officially took over The Wendy Williams Show on Sept. 12 — scored four nominations for the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards, but the June 16 awards were postponed indefinitely due to the WGA strike.
Yuck! During the same episode, Sherri happened to perform in a skit where she threw a booze-fuelled office party for her entire staff.
Woe! In it, many members of Shepherd’s crew were depicted drinking alcohol, but she was only depicted dancing and blowing a celebratory noisemaker.
The NewsNation host later told EW, “Sherri called to apologize — she was very gracious. She just didn’t know. It does not matter. I wasn’t upset at all’ (pictured May 17 on her set)
The Daytime Emmy winner also shared a statement with EW: “Sometimes when you do live TV you make mistakes. That happened today during my interview with Elizabeth Vargas and I’m sorry. She was very gracious about it at the time and on the phone when I called her afterwards to apologize. And she’s looking forward to returning next season.”