A feud between comedian Howie Mandel and Bravo executive and Watch What Happens host Andy Cohen is blowing up after Cohen called Mandel a “jackhole” following an interview the comedian did with Vanderpump Rules star Tom Sandoval. Turns out the bald comedian and America’s Got Talent judge doesn’t really mind.
Cohen was mad at Mandel for not doing his “homework” about Sandoval before the interview, and he made his feelings very clear on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, calling Mandel the “Jackhole of the Day.”
“Howie, you have to be careful before you take a side,” Cohen said. “Bravo fans are very passionate.” Mandel appeared on the Nick Viall podcast Viall Files and responded to the allegations.
“I was a jackhole, I’m a jackhole on ‘Watch What Happens’ – Andy Cohen said I’m a jackhole. I think that’s positive,” Mandel said, adding that he is one of those people who likes “to have a title.”
He also mentioned that the backlash from the Bravo fan base has been “really intense.” “Bravo hates me,” he added.
Quick context: Sandoval is in hot water over whether he had an affair with Raquel Leviss, even though he was dating Ariana Madix for almost a decade. He went on Mandel’s podcast Howie Mandel Does Stuff and said he dumped Madix on Valentine’s Day. Other sources say Madix broke up with him after finding lewd videos of Leviss on his phone.
Mandel previously admitted that he didn’t really know much about Sandoval before the interview, and had also never watched the show.
“My homework was talking to him, and I wanna hear this story, I wanna hear why it’s so big,” Mandel said. He also said he told Sandoval he wouldn’t be challenged during their chat. Lala Kent also slammed Mandel, and on Viall Files Mandel said he found her “funny and interesting.”
Digging deeper, Mandel said that Sandoval was on “my show,” perhaps a small dig at Cohen for not being able to secure Sandoval as a guest. He also claimed that the negative response he’s been getting is not warranted. Check out the full video below.
Will Andy Cohen have anything further to say on the matter? We’ll keep you posted.