CuongmhsIn a jaw-dropping moment that sent shockwaves through Fox News’ loyal viewership, Greg Gutfeld, the sharp-tongued conservative firebrand and co-host of The Five, unleashed a verbal barrage that left the studio silent and social media ablaze. Filling in for regular co-host Dana Perino, Gillian Turner found herself in the crosshairs of Gutfeld’s frustration during a heated discussion that spiraled into chaos. The veteran host didn’t just interrupt—he detonated, snapping, “Another Jessica Tarlov?!” in a moment that was as much a jab at Turner’s commentary as it was a pointed dig at the show’s resident liberal, Jessica Tarlov. Fans are now divided: was this a long-overdue reality check or a meltdown signaling deeper cracks in the The Five dynamic?
The clash, which aired during a recent episode of The Five on July 25, 2025, wasn’t just a fleeting moment of tension. It was a full-on eruption that exposed the simmering ideological fault lines among the panelists. The segment began innocently enough, with the hosts diving into a discussion about recent controversies surrounding immigration policies and their impact on crime rates. Turner, stepping in for Perino, offered a perspective that echoed the empathetic tone often associated with Tarlov, the show’s liberal voice. She referenced the complexities of immigration enforcement, suggesting that some cases, like that of Kilmar Abrego Garcia—a Maryland man wrongfully deported to a brutal Salvadoran prison—highlight systemic issues that deserve nuanced consideration.
That’s when Gutfeld’s fuse blew.
“Another Jessica Tarlov?!” he barked, cutting Turner off mid-sentence. His voice dripped with exasperation, his eyes narrowing as he leaned forward. “Are we just recycling the same tired talking points now? This is about law and order, not sob stories!” The studio fell silent, with co-hosts Jesse Watters and Jeanine Pirro exchanging uneasy glances. Turner, visibly caught off guard, attempted to respond, but Gutfeld wasn’t done. “You sound like you’re reading from the same script as every progressive out there, hiding behind this shield of fake compassion,” he continued, echoing sentiments from a recent monologue where he lambasted leftists for always choosing “the side that’s breaking the law” because they view the system as inherently oppressive.
The reference to Tarlov wasn’t random. Gutfeld has a history of sparring with the liberal co-host, whose data-driven arguments and unapologetic Democratic stance often clash with his biting conservative wit. Social media posts on X have captured the ongoing friction, with fans praising Gutfeld for “putting Tarlov in her place” while others defend her as “the only one telling the truth” on a show dominated by conservative voices. This time, however, it was Turner—a seasoned journalist known for her measured takes—who bore the brunt of Gutfeld’s ire. The comparison to Tarlov wasn’t just a quip; it was a pointed accusation that Turner was veering too far into liberal territory, a cardinal sin in Gutfeld’s view for a show that thrives on its conservative backbone.
The exchange didn’t end there. Turner, undeterred, pushed back, arguing that dismissing cases like Abrego Garcia’s as mere “errors” ignores the human cost of aggressive immigration policies. “This isn’t about compassion; it’s about fairness,” she said, her tone firm but calm. “When someone who’s lived here for 14 years, under a protective order, gets sent to a prison camp, that’s not just a mistake—it’s a failure.” Gutfeld scoffed, doubling down on his stance from his earlier monologue: “They always choose the side breaking the law because they see the system as oppressed. That’s the filter—every time.” He gestured broadly, as if addressing not just Turner but the entire progressive movement. “It’s like watching Jaws and rooting for the shark!”
The studio tension was palpable, and producers reportedly scrambled during the commercial break to cool things down. According to sources close to the production, Turner remained on set but was visibly shaken, while Gutfeld’s frustration lingered. Social media erupted, with hashtags like #GutfeldSnaps and #TeamGillian trending. Some viewers cheered Gutfeld’s unfiltered honesty, with one X user posting, “Greg just said what we’re all thinking—enough with the bleeding-heart nonsense!” Others, however, called his outburst unprofessional, with one user writing, “Gillian was making a valid point, and Gutfeld just shouted her down. He’s losing it.”
This wasn’t the first time Gutfeld has clashed with a co-host, but the intensity of this moment felt different. His history with Tarlov is well-documented, with recent incidents ranging from heated debates over Trump’s tariffs to a particularly brutal exchange about the Russiagate hoax, where Gutfeld accused Tarlov of “selective outrage.” The comparison to Tarlov in this instance seemed to signal a deeper frustration: Gutfeld’s growing impatience with what he perceives as a creeping liberal bias infiltrating even the more moderate voices on The Five. Turner, who typically straddles the line between conservative and centrist perspectives, became the unexpected target of his pent-up irritation.
The broader context of Gutfeld’s outburst ties back to his monologue on the same episode, where he railed against what he sees as a pattern among progressives. “The modern Democrat, the modern progressive, picks the wrong side in every contest,” he declared, citing examples like the defense of a Maryland man later revealed to be a human trafficker and the debunked narrative of border agents whipping Haitian migrants. He argued that leftists hide behind “false compassion” to justify supporting lawbreakers, a theme he revisited when challenging Turner’s point about immigration enforcement. “You enforce the law, they pretend to care,” he said, his voice rising. “They’re like a therapy patient who wants to get better but still wants to do meth!”
For fans of The Five, Gutfeld’s fiery persona is part of the show’s appeal. The program, which averages 3.851 million viewers and has topped cable news ratings for 14 consecutive quarters, thrives on its blend of spirited debate and unapologetic conservative commentary. Gutfeld, alongside Watters, Perino, and Pirro, has cultivated a loyal audience that tunes in for what one X user called “the last bastion of real talk.” But the show’s formula—pitting strong conservative voices against a rotating liberal co-host like Tarlov or Harold Ford Jr.—can sometimes tip into chaos, as evidenced by past incidents like Tarlov’s reported removal from the set after a clash with Gutfeld in March 2025.
That earlier incident, where Tarlov was pulled by producers after a heated exchange, fueled speculation about her future on the show. Some insiders suggested Fox might reduce her appearances to avoid further friction, while others argued her presence is vital for the show’s ideological balance. The comparison to Tarlov in Gutfeld’s outburst against Turner suggests he sees a pattern: liberal-leaning arguments that, in his view, undermine the show’s core appeal to its conservative base. “It’s not just about one host,” an insider told The New York Times. “It’s about the identity of The Five. Gutfeld’s warning shot is about what the audience will tolerate.”
So, what’s next for The Five? The show has weathered controversies before, from Geraldo Rivera’s abrupt exit in 2023 after spats with Gutfeld and Watters to Pirro’s departure in May 2025 to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia. Yet, this latest clash has sparked renewed debate about whether the show’s format can sustain such intense ideological divides. Some fans speculate that Fox executives are already considering changes, with rumors of screen tests for new co-hosts or a rotation system to diffuse tensions. Others believe Gutfeld’s outburst was a calculated move to rally the show’s base, who see him as a defender of their values against encroaching liberal narratives.
For now, neither Gutfeld nor Turner has addressed the incident publicly, and Fox News has remained tight-lipped. But the fallout is undeniable. Social media continues to buzz, with some viewers calling for Turner to replace Tarlov permanently, while others demand an apology from Gutfeld for what they see as unprofessional behavior. Media analysts suggest this moment could be a turning point, forcing Fox to reassess how it balances passionate debate with on-air decorum. “The Five thrives on conflict, but there’s a line between lively and toxic,” one critic noted.
As the dust settles, one thing is clear: Gutfeld’s eruption wasn’t just about Turner or Tarlov. It was a manifesto against what he sees as a broader betrayal of principle—a refusal to let The Five become another platform for what he calls “recycled progressive talking points.” Whether this was a one-off burst of frustration or a sign of deeper shakeups to come, one thing’s for sure: The Five remains must-watch TV, for better or worse.
