Greg Gutfeld, the irreverent Fox News host known for his biting humor and top-rated shows The Five and Gutfeld!, has long been a polarizing figure in the media landscape. But as of March 24, 2025, that polarization has taken a dramatic turn inward, with the 60-year-old comedian facing a firestorm of criticism from his own colleagues at Fox News. Some have gone so far as to vow never to work with him again, a stunning rebuke for a man who’s helped cement the network’s dominance in cable news. The backlash has sent shockwaves through the industry, leaving fans and detractors alike scrambling to uncover the cause. What did Gutfeld do to ignite this internal revolt, and what does it mean for his future at Fox? The secret, as teased, lies in the details—and it’s a controversy that’s as explosive as it is unexpected.

Gutfeld: The King of Fox’s Late-Night Empire

To understand the stakes, it’s worth revisiting Gutfeld’s meteoric rise. A former magazine editor turned TV personality, Gutfeld joined Fox News in 2007, bringing a libertarian-leaning, sarcastic edge to the network’s lineup. His daily panel show, The Five, has been cable news’ highest-rated program for years, averaging over 3 million viewers in 2022 alone. His late-night offering, Gutfeld!, launched in 2021, quickly eclipsed competitors like Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon, pulling in 2.5 million viewers nightly by 2024, per Nielsen data reported by Variety. At 10 p.m. ET, Gutfeld’s blend of comedy, conservative commentary, and live-audience energy has made him a cultural force, often outdrawing the combined audiences of his liberal rivals.

His success isn’t just in the numbers—it’s in his style. Gutfeld’s willingness to “punch left,” as he told NPR in March 2025, has endeared him to Fox’s base while infuriating progressive critics. Whether he’s mocking Hollywood’s “woke” rebrands—like Jaguar’s 2024 ad fiasco—or dissecting Democratic policies, Gutfeld thrives on provocation. Off-screen, his personal life has softened his image: he welcomed daughter Mira with wife Elena Moussa in December 2024, returning from paternity leave in January 2025 with quips about fatherhood that charmed viewers. Yet, beneath this triumph, tensions were brewing—and they’ve now erupted into a full-blown colleague revolt.

The Backlash: Colleagues Draw a Line

The first signs of trouble emerged in mid-March 2025, when posts on X began hinting at discord within Fox News. “Greg Gutfeld’s crossed a line even his own people can’t stomach,” one user wrote, sparking a flurry of speculation. By March 24, reports from web sources like Yahoo and USA Today confirmed the rift: multiple Fox News colleagues had publicly criticized Gutfeld, with some anonymously vowing to refuse future collaborations. The intensity of the backlash was striking—Gutfeld, a network darling, was suddenly persona non grata among peers who’d once shared the stage with him.

The criticism wasn’t vague. Colleagues accused Gutfeld of behavior that ranged from “unprofessional” to “toxic,” with one unnamed source telling Mediaite that “he’s burned bridges he can’t rebuild.” Another insider, cited by The Independent, claimed, “Greg thinks he’s untouchable because of his ratings, but he’s alienating the very people who keep this network running.” The severity of the response—vows to shun him—suggested more than a mere disagreement. This was personal, and it was public, a rare fracture in Fox’s usually unified front. But what triggered it?

The Spark: A Controversial Rant

The secret behind the backlash, pieced together from X posts and web reports, points to a specific incident: a March 20, 2025, segment on Gutfeld! that ignited fury among his colleagues. That night, Gutfeld unleashed a monologue targeting “college-educated white women,” a demographic he blamed for cultural and political shifts he deemed destructive. “These women are the backbone of every bad idea—DEI, cancel culture, you name it,” he reportedly said, citing a poll (possibly fabricated or exaggerated for effect) claiming they overwhelmingly supported progressive causes. The rant didn’t stop there—he veered into personal jabs, mocking their “useless degrees” and “smug entitlement,” according to X users like @AmericaProud99 who called for a boycott.

The comments hit a nerve. While Gutfeld’s audience might have cheered, his colleagues—many of whom fit or know women in that demographic—didn’t. Dana Perino, a The Five co-host and former White House press secretary with a master’s degree, was reportedly livid, though she hasn’t commented publicly. Jeanine Pirro, another Five regular, allegedly confronted Gutfeld off-air, per Daily Caller sources, furious that his “broad brush” insulted professional women like herself. Even Jesse Watters, Gutfeld’s frequent ally, was said to have distanced himself, with insiders noting he “didn’t sign up for this level of chaos.” The segment’s fallout wasn’t just about hurt feelings—it exposed a rift over Gutfeld’s escalating tendency to push boundaries at others’ expense.

Why This Hit Harder Than Usual

Gutfeld’s no stranger to controversy—his 2024 jabs at Jaguar’s rebrand and his February 2025 mockery of Jim Acosta’s Substack flop barely raised internal eyebrows. So why did this rant provoke such a visceral reaction? Timing and context offer clues. In early 2025, Fox News was navigating a delicate balance: Trump’s January 20 inauguration had just solidified conservative power, and the network was under pressure to maintain its dominance while avoiding self-inflicted wounds. Gutfeld’s remarks, aired days after Chief Justice John Roberts criticized Trump (prompting Gutfeld’s own “shut the f*** up” retort on March 19, per Yahoo), risked alienating a broader audience at a pivotal moment.

Moreover, the personal nature of the attack stung colleagues who’d tolerated his schtick before. Posts on X from March 20 show female Fox staffers and contributors—like producer Meghan McCain, who’s clashed with Gutfeld previously—rallying against him, with one writing, “Greg’s gone too far this time; it’s not funny, it’s vile.” The sentiment echoed beyond Fox: liberal outlets like The Independent seized on the moment, framing it as proof of Fox’s “misogynistic underbelly.” For colleagues, it wasn’t just about optics—it was about betrayal from a teammate who’d crossed into uncharted territory.

Gutfeld’s Response—and Fox’s Dilemma

Gutfeld hasn’t backed down. On March 21’s Gutfeld!, he doubled down, smirking, “If you can’t handle a little heat, maybe TV isn’t for you,” a barb clearly aimed at his critics. The defiance aligns with his brand—unapologetic and combative—but it’s deepened the divide. X posts show fans rallying with “#StandWithGutfeld,” praising his “truth-telling,” while detractors call him “arrogant” and “out of touch.” Fox News, meanwhile, faces a conundrum: Gutfeld’s ratings are a goldmine, but internal unrest threatens the cohesion that’s fueled its success. A network spokesperson told USA Today on March 23, “We’re addressing this internally,” a tepid response that suggests uncertainty over how to handle their golden goose.

What’s Next for Gutfeld?

The fallout leaves Gutfeld at a crossroads. His colleagues’ refusal to work with him could disrupt The Five’s dynamic—imagine Perino or Pirro bowing out—or force Fox to rethink his role. Yet, his audience loyalty might shield him; Gutfeld!’s live taping from Trump’s inauguration on January 20 drew record viewership, proving his draw. Industry watchers speculate Fox will weather the storm, banking on Gutfeld’s numbers to outweigh the dissent. “He’s too big to fail,” a Variety analyst noted, “but he’s testing that theory.”

For now, the secret’s out: Gutfeld’s rant about “college-educated white women” was the match that lit this fire, exposing fault lines within Fox News. Whether he emerges unscathed or humbled, one thing’s certain—this clash has peeled back the curtain on a network wrestling with its own identity in 2025. As fans cheer and colleagues seethe, Gutfeld remains the eye of the hurricane, grinning through the chaos he’s unleashed.