A Provocative Segment on The Five

On the evening of July 15, 2025, Fox News’ primetime show The Five became the epicenter of a firestorm that would ripple across America. The panel, known for its heated debates and conservative commentary, was discussing a recent immigration raid at a California cannabis farm, where roughly 300 workers were detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The conversation took a sharp turn when host Greg Gutfeld, known for his provocative humor, addressed the frequent labeling of conservatives as “Nazis” by their critics. What followed was a moment that stunned viewers, ignited a fierce backlash, and raised questions about the boundaries of political discourse and satire.

“This is why the criticism doesn’t matter to us when you call us Nazis. Nazi this and Nazi that,” Gutfeld said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “I’m beginning to think they don’t like us. You know what? I’ve said this before. We need to learn from the Blacks. The way they were able to remove the power from the n-word by using it. So, from now on, it’s, ‘What up, my Nazi? Hey, what up, my Nazi? Hey, what’s hanging, my Nazi?’”

The studio erupted with nervous laughter. Co-host Lisa Kennedy Montgomery, known simply as Kennedy, chimed in with a quip: “Nazi, please!” Gutfeld, grinning, responded, “Thank God you did a hard ‘i’ there.” Co-host Jesse Watters chuckled in the background, while Harold Ford Jr., the panel’s lone Black member, interjected with a series of uncomfortable “heys,” visibly uneasy. The exchange, meant as a satirical jab, instead landed like a bombshell, sparking immediate outrage across social media and beyond.

The Context: A Nation Divided

Gutfeld’s comments came at a time when America was already grappling with deep political and cultural divisions. The 2024 presidential election had intensified tensions, with immigration, race, and free speech dominating the national conversation. The raid discussed on The Five was a flashpoint: 300 workers detained, one death reported—a 57-year-old farmer named Jaime Alanís, described as a “hard-working, innocent” family man. Critics of the raid accused the Trump administration of heavy-handed tactics, while conservatives, including Gutfeld, framed it as a necessary response to illegal immigration, dismissing progressive critiques as “violent anti-ICE rhetoric.”

Against this backdrop, Gutfeld’s attempt to equate the reclamation of the n-word by Black communities with conservatives adopting “Nazi” as a term of endearment struck many as not just tone-deaf but profoundly offensive. The comparison trivialized centuries of Black struggle against systemic racism and the horrors of the Holocaust, where over six million Jews and other minorities were systematically murdered under Nazi ideology.

The Backlash: Swift and Severe

Within hours, the clip went viral, shared by accounts like PatriotTakes and amplified by outlets such as The Independent, HuffPost, and Rolling Stone. Social media platforms, particularly X, erupted with condemnation. “A decade ago this segment would have ended someone’s career on television, and that was probably a good thing,” one user wrote. Another fumed, “You’re spitting on the graves of Holocaust victims and mocking centuries of Black suffering for clout. You don’t sound ‘provocative’—you sound like two dusty cousins at Thanksgiving dinner trying to out-racist each other before dessert.”

Journalist Mehdi Hasan, founder of Zeteo, was among the most vocal critics, tweeting, “These quotes, even if said in jest, would destroy the careers of any other journalist on any other mainstream national media platform. But Fox doesn’t employ journalists and doesn’t have any journalistic (or decency) standards.” Actor John Cusack called Gutfeld’s remarks a “Nazi circle jerk,” while another user remarked, “Glad they went full mask off and stopped hiding it.”

The outrage wasn’t limited to progressive circles. Conservative commentator Jonah Goldberg, while acknowledging Gutfeld’s intent was humor, criticized the execution: “I get that @greggutfeld is joking. But I really don’t think he’s thought this through.”

Gutfeld’s Response: Doubling Down

Rather than retreating, Gutfeld addressed the controversy on his late-night show, Gutfeld!, the following evening. With his characteristic smirk, he leaned into the backlash, framing it as evidence of a humorless, overly sensitive culture. “Look, folks, if you’re clutching your pearls over this, you’re proving my point,” he said. “The left loves to weaponize words to shut down debate. They call us Nazis to silence us, and now they’re mad because I’m taking their ammo and turning it into a gag. If you can’t handle a joke, maybe you’re the one with the problem.”

He went on to argue that his comparison to the n-word was “obviously” not meant to offend but to illustrate how language can be reclaimed to neutralize its power. “Black folks took a word meant to degrade them and turned it into a term of camaraderie in some contexts. That’s strength. Why can’t we do the same with ‘Nazi’? Why let the left define us with their slurs?” Gutfeld’s co-hosts nodded along, with Kat Timpf adding, “It’s about taking back control of the narrative.”

The response only fueled the fire. Critics argued that Gutfeld’s defense ignored the vastly different historical contexts of the two terms. The n-word carries centuries of racial oppression, rooted in slavery and systemic violence against Black people. “Nazi,” by contrast, refers to a specific ideology responsible for one of history’s greatest atrocities. “You don’t get to ‘reclaim’ a term tied to genocide as a punchline,” tweeted historian Dr. Rachel Cohen. “It’s not satire; it’s erasure.”

The Broader Implications

The controversy highlighted deeper issues within American media and political discourse. Fox News, long accused of pandering to its base with inflammatory rhetoric, faced renewed scrutiny over its editorial standards. Critics pointed out that Gutfeld’s comments, while framed as humor, fit a broader pattern of downplaying serious issues for ratings. “This is what happens when you prioritize provocation over substance,” wrote The Washington Post’s media critic, Erik Wemple. “Fox News thrives on outrage clicks, and Gutfeld’s shtick is just the latest example.”

The incident also sparked a debate about the limits of free speech and satire. Supporters of Gutfeld argued that his comments, while edgy, were protected speech and a legitimate critique of “woke” culture’s overuse of terms like “Nazi.” “He’s exposing the absurdity of the left’s rhetoric,” said conservative pundit Ben Shapiro. “If you can’t handle a comedian pushing boundaries, turn off the TV.” Others, however, saw it as a dangerous normalization of hateful language. “Words matter,” said Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. “Casually tossing around ‘Nazi’ as a joke trivializes the suffering of millions and emboldens actual extremists.”

The Panel’s Role and Silence

The reactions of Gutfeld’s co-hosts also drew attention. Kennedy’s quick quip and Watters’ laughter were seen by many as complicity, while Harold Ford Jr.’s discomfort was palpable. Ford, a Democratic commentator often outnumbered on the panel, later addressed the incident on X, writing, “I was caught off guard in the moment, and I regret not pushing back harder. Some comparisons are too loaded to be made lightly, and this was one of them.” His statement was praised by some for its candor but criticized by others as too little, too late.

Kennedy and Watters, meanwhile, remained largely silent outside the show, with no public statements addressing the backlash. This fueled accusations that The Five’s format thrives on performative outrage rather than meaningful debate. “The panel is designed to create viral moments, not foster understanding,” wrote Vox columnist Sarah Jones. “They’re not discussing policy—they’re putting on a show.”

The Public’s Reaction and Calls for Accountability

Public response extended beyond social media. Protests gathered outside Fox News’ New York headquarters, with groups like Jewish Voice for Peace and the NAACP demanding an apology and Gutfeld’s suspension. A petition calling for his removal from The Five garnered over 100,000 signatures within 48 hours. “Fox News has a responsibility to stop amplifying harmful rhetoric,” the petition stated. “Gutfeld’s comments crossed a line, and silence is complicity.”

Advertisers also faced pressure. Several major brands, including Procter & Gamble and Verizon, reportedly pulled ads from The Five amid the controversy, though Fox News did not confirm these reports. The network issued a brief statement: “Greg Gutfeld’s comments were intended as satire and do not reflect the views of Fox News. We stand by our commitment to robust, open debate.” The statement was widely criticized as inadequate, with many calling for a formal apology or disciplinary action.

The Cultural Fallout

As the controversy unfolded, it became a Rorschach test for America’s polarized landscape. To Gutfeld’s supporters, he was a fearless truth-teller, exposing the hypocrisy of progressive language policing. To his critics, he was a reckless provocateur, weaponizing humor to normalize dangerous ideas. The debate raged on X, with hashtags like #FireGutfeld and #StandWithGreg trending simultaneously.

Academics and cultural critics weighed in, framing the incident as a symptom of a broader “post-truth” era. “When satire becomes indistinguishable from bigotry, it’s no longer satire,” said Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, a professor of sociology at Vanderbilt University. “Gutfeld’s comments reflect a media ecosystem that rewards shock over substance.” Others, like comedian Bill Maher, took a more nuanced view: “Gutfeld’s joke bombed, no question. But the outrage machine is just as bad. We’re all so busy being offended, we’ve forgotten how to think.”

What Happens Next?

As of July 22, 2025, the controversy shows no signs of abating. Fox News has not announced any changes to The Five’s lineup, and Gutfeld remains defiant, teasing future “jokes” about the backlash on his show. Meanwhile, progressive groups are planning further protests, and conservative outlets like Breitbart and Newsmax have rallied to Gutfeld’s defense, framing the outrage as “cancel culture run amok.”

The incident raises uncomfortable questions about the role of media in a divided nation. Can satire push boundaries without causing harm? Where is the line between provocation and irresponsibility? And in an era of viral soundbites, can nuanced debate survive? For now, Gutfeld’s comments have left America speechless—not out of awe, but out of anger, confusion, and a shared sense that something fundamental has been lost in the noise.