Jesse Watters says story about deflating now-wife’s tyres so she would need a ride was a ‘joke’
Fox News anchor previously said he tried tactic when ‘trying to get’ Emma DiGiovine to date him
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Jesse Watters has claimed an anecdote he shared about letting the air out of his now-wife’s tyres while “trying to get [her] to date” him “was a joke”.
The Fox News host, 43, initially shared the story about his wife Emma DiGiovine, 29, during an episode of his panel series The Five earlier this month. During the segment, he told his co-hosts that he once “let the air out of” DiGiovine’s tyres so that she would need to accept his offer of a ride home.
“She couldn’t go anywhere. She needed a lift, I said: ‘Hey, you need a lift?’ She hopped right in the car,” Watters said.
At the time, the TV anchor’s “concerning” recollection sparked criticism on social media, where viewers described the story as “scary” and “disgusting”.
“Jesse Watters of Fox News bragged about deflating a woman’s tyres so she would have to get in his car for a date. That’s disgusting and concerning,” one person wrote.
On Monday’s episode of The Five, the Fox News host addressed the backlash, and claimed that he had been joking.
Describing the story and subsequent criticism as “Deflategate,” Watters told his co-anchors that the anecdote “was a joke,” before adding: “I never deflated anyone’s tyres,” according to People.
During the show, anchor Greg Gutfeld also said that Watters had clarified he was joking during the initial segment, but that it had been cut. “You even said it was a joke but they didn’t clip that,” he said.
Watters’ clarification comes after he previously told his co-hosts that the alleged tactic worked in his favour, as it resulted in a “happy ending”. “We’re married!” he said at the time.
Watters and DiGiovine, who worked as a producer on his show, married in December 2019, after the Fox News host finalised his divorce from Noelle Inguagiato the same year.
The Independent has contacted Fox News for comment.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments