CNN’s president Jeff Zucker made a sexually-tinged joke at an awards ceremony in New York directed at his network's morning anchor, Alisyn Camerota.

“I was gonna say that I love waking up with you every morning, but I want to say that I love waking up to you every morning,” he said Camerota while on stage at the Mirror Awards in Manhattan in remarks first reported by The Hollywood Reporter, prompting groans from the audience.

Jeff Zucker on CNN morning anchor Alisyn Camerota, who MC'd the awards show: "I was gonna say that I love waking up WITH YOU every morning, but I want to say that I love waking up TO YOU every morning." (there were some groans in the room) — Jeremy Barr (@jeremymbarr) June 13, 2019

Camerota was accepting a leadership award at the event.

In 2017, she said on CNN that former Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes sexually harassed her while she was at the network.





“It’s the oldest joke in the book made to morning show anchors, both men and women,” Camerota told the New York-based publication in a statement. “I hear it a couple of times a week from people in the grocery store. That isn’t harassment, in my opinion, and I didn’t find it tone deaf, either.” Camerota told the Daily Beast she didn't take issue with Zucker's joke, saying she hears it often while out in public.“It’s the oldest joke in the book made to morning show anchors, both men and women,” Camerota told the New York-based publication in a statement. “I hear it a couple of times a week from people in the grocery store. That isn’t harassment, in my opinion, and I didn’t find it tone deaf, either.”



Camerota joined CNN In July 2014 after 16 years with Fox News.