When Fox News host Greg Gutfeld took aim at what he called the “allied slobbering media” this week, he probably didn’t expect to spark such a wave of online backlash. But that’s exactly what happened after Tuesday’s segment of The Five, where Gutfeld’s critique of journalistic bias appeared to collide head-on with his own reputation as one of the network’s most outspoken defenders of former President Donald Trump.

The exchange began during a discussion of White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s new book, when Gutfeld veered into a broader commentary on media coverage, accusing major outlets of protecting favored political figures while vilifying others. “They’re not reporters anymore,” he said with typical flair. “They’re a cheering section — an allied slobbering media.”

His fellow panelists chuckled. But beyond the studio walls, critics quickly pounced — pointing out that Gutfeld himself has often been one of the loudest voices praising Trump’s policies, tone, and media strategy. The resulting clash of perceptions — between what Gutfeld sees as media hypocrisy and what his detractors view as his own — has reignited a familiar debate about bias, loyalty, and laughter in modern political television.

The Man Behind the Microphone

Greg Gutfeld isn’t just another Fox News personality. A former magazine editor turned television satirist, he’s built his brand on wit, irreverence, and a tendency to needle both sides of the aisle. His late-night show Gutfeld! often draws some of the largest audiences in cable comedy, sometimes surpassing major network talk shows.

Yet, his humor — part political punch, part barroom bravado — has made him a lightning rod for controversy. To fans, he’s a refreshing antidote to what they perceive as the self-serious tone of mainstream news. To critics, he’s emblematic of how entertainment and partisanship have blurred the lines of journalism.

So when Gutfeld lashed out at the “slobbering media,” viewers who have followed his career saw a familiar mix of humor and hyperbole — but this time, the joke seemed to turn back on him.

“Slobbering” in the Spotlight

The timing of his comment didn’t help. In the same segment, Gutfeld praised Trump’s combative style with journalists — a pattern of deference that many observers found ironic given his accusation against other outlets. “It’s like watching someone criticize mirrors for being reflective,” one viewer posted on social media.

Media analysts were quick to weigh in. “This is classic projection,” said Lila Morrison, a professor of communications at the University of Maryland. “Gutfeld’s critique would carry more weight if Fox itself hadn’t cultivated such a close relationship with the figures it covers. The difference is not in whether networks favor someone — it’s in how honestly they acknowledge it.”

That notion — that all news is, to some degree, filtered through a lens of loyalty — has become central to discussions about cable media’s role in shaping political perception. And while Gutfeld’s comments may have been meant as satire, they opened a window into how even humor can reinforce partisan narratives.

The Trump-Fox Relationship

The relationship between Donald Trump and Fox News has long been one of mutual advantage — and mutual dependence. During Trump’s presidency, Fox became both a platform and a megaphone for his administration’s messaging, while Trump’s frequent references to the network boosted its visibility among his base.

At the time, Fox host Jesse Watters famously quipped that Trump was practically “a Fox News producer” because of how closely the network’s programming mirrored his talking points.

For many critics, that dynamic made Gutfeld’s “slobbering” accusation ring hollow. “You can’t call the media fawning when your own network helped write the script,” tweeted one media columnist. Others defended Gutfeld, arguing that his remarks targeted what he sees as systemic bias in traditional newsrooms rather than an admission of purity from his own.

As one of Fox’s few consistent humorists, Gutfeld often walks that fine line between commentary and comedy. But this particular segment seemed to land in neither camp — too pointed to be dismissed as a joke, yet too tongue-in-cheek to be taken as serious critique.

Humor or Hypocrisy?

Part of what makes Gutfeld a complex figure in modern media is that he doesn’t fit neatly into the usual categories. He’s not a reporter, yet he’s often cited as a political commentator. He’s not a stand-up comic, yet his monologues rely on rhythm and punchlines.

“He’s a hybrid — part entertainer, part ideologue,” said pop-culture writer Daniel Vargas. “That’s what makes him successful but also what makes his statements combustible. When Greg says something outrageous, people argue over whether he meant it. And that ambiguity keeps him in the news cycle.”

Indeed, Gutfeld has often said his main goal is to entertain, not to preach. In interviews, he’s described The Five as “a dinner table debate show,” where humor and disagreement coexist. His defenders argue that critics miss the satire by taking him too literally.

But in an age when television clips circulate instantly online — stripped of their surrounding context — intent is easily lost. Once the quote “allied slobbering media” began trending, few viewers cared whether it was said in jest.

The Echo Chamber Effect

The uproar surrounding Gutfeld’s comment is part of a larger trend in political media — one where hosts, pundits, and comedians all compete for viral sound bites in a fragmented landscape of audiences who already agree with them.

“There’s no longer a universal ‘mainstream media,’” Morrison noted. “What we have now are ecosystems of affirmation. Everyone accuses the other side of bias because the business model rewards outrage.”

For Fox News, that model has been extraordinarily successful. The network’s prime-time lineup consistently dominates cable ratings, and Gutfeld himself has become one of its most bankable personalities. His fans view his irreverence as honesty in a field full of corporate talking heads.

Still, moments like this week’s controversy highlight the downside of that strategy: when satire and sincerity blend, even loyal viewers can struggle to tell which is which.

The Digital Reaction

Online, reactions to the segment were swift and divided. Hashtags mocking Gutfeld trended alongside those defending him, with thousands of clips circulating within hours. Memes juxtaposed his remarks about “media slobbering” with his past praise for Trump’s leadership style.

Others used the moment to reflect on the broader question of how media figures build loyalty. “Every network has its champions,” one user wrote. “Gutfeld just says out loud what most hosts pretend isn’t true.”

That tension — between performance and authenticity — has become a defining feature of political entertainment. Whether it’s comedians blending satire with activism or commentators injecting humor into serious policy debates, today’s audiences expect hosts to be part personality, part truth-teller. Gutfeld’s latest controversy shows how perilous that balancing act can be.

Beyond the Outrage Cycle

By midweek, the online furor had already begun to fade, replaced by the next trending story. That, too, is part of the pattern. Gutfeld, a veteran of both media storms and ratings surges, seemed unfazed. His show aired as usual the following night, featuring another roundtable of sharp exchanges and punchlines.

If anything, the dust-up may even strengthen his appeal among fans who see him as a truth-teller pushing back against what he calls the “media machine.”

“This is why people watch him,” said Vargas. “He says what his audience feels — that there’s bias everywhere, but at least he’s laughing about it.”

Whether viewers interpret that laughter as self-awareness or self-contradiction depends largely on which screen they’re watching from.

A Mirror to Modern Media

Ultimately, the Gutfeld episode isn’t just about one host’s remark. It’s a snapshot of a broader cultural phenomenon: a media landscape where every accusation of bias is instantly mirrored by another.

When Gutfeld mocks the “slobbering media,” his critics see Fox’s reflection in the same mirror. When his defenders highlight bias elsewhere, detractors see confirmation of their own. In that sense, everyone’s right — and everyone’s wrong.

The irony, of course, is that this endless cycle of calling out hypocrisy may be the truest depiction of today’s news industry. Each side sees the other as fawning, self-serving, and loyal to power. And somewhere in between, viewers laugh, argue, and tune in for more.

As one observer put it on social media, “If Greg Gutfeld wanted to prove that all media are biased, he succeeded — because every outlet ran the same story about how biased he is.”

That, perhaps, is the punchline none of us can avoid.