(PHOTO: Reuters/Rose M. Prouser/CNN)Star Jones Reynolds, former co-host of the ABC television network program "The View," during an exclusive interview on CNN's "Larry King Live" at the CNN studios in Los Angeles, June 29, 2006, file photo.
(Photo: Reuters/ Lucas Jackson)Television personality Anderson Cooper.
Social media sites have been flooded with reactions after Anderson Cooper slammed Star Jones for implying he revealed his homosexuality as a ploy to boost television ratings.
Earlier this year, CNN's anchor publicly announced that he is gay in an email to writer Andrew Sullivan.
Shortly after awhile on the "Today" show, Jones stated her suspicions over Cooper's motives for coming out.
"I've been in daytime television a long time," said the "View" host. "He's a daytime talk show host and when the ratings slip in daytime, the hosts tend to tell you lots of things about them … There were time that you generate information for ratings."
On his daytime talk show "Anderson Live" on Thursday, the journalist took aim at Jones for her accusations, stating the he was "annoyed" by her comments and denied any effort to boost his ratings with his reveal.
"If I was wanting to boost ratings, I would have waited to announce it on 'A Very Special Episode' that would have been promo'd for weeks and weeks and there would have been commercials," said the CNN star. "But instead I was in Africa on assignment for '60 Minutes.' I wasn't even on the air for days afterward!"
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Moreover, he suggested that it was Jones who attempted to use her personal life to boost ratings.
"As memory serves me correctly, in terms of boosting ratings, I seem to recall [Jones] hocking her wedding every single day to get free products when she was on 'The View' and I seem to recall her lying about her gastric bypass surgery and making everybody else lie about it as well," Cooper stated.
Cooper also revealed that he had invited Jones to sit down with him on "Anderson Live" to discuss her comments, but that she had declined.
Although Jones refused to appear on the talk show, the television personality addressed Cooper via Twitter on Thursday.
"I was wrong," started Jones. "@AndersonCooper didn't come out as a ratings ploy. He used ME talking about him coming out @TodayShow as a ratings ploy. #MyBad"
Many Twitter users have sided with Cooper after he defended himself against "The View" host's comments.
Teri Ramirez posted, "@AndersonCooper doesn't need 2 use a ratings ploy 2 get viewers… @StarJonesEsq Child Pls! #getoverurself"
Twitter user Two Doxies wrote, "@StarJonesEsq You're so full of it. Still as nasty as usual #TeamAndersonCooper @andersoncooper @todayshow"
Susan posted a supportive message: "I love @andersoncooper soooo much. He is amazing! I want to meet him one day. #inspiring"
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