In the fast-paced, high-energy world of Fox News, where larger-than-life personalities like Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld trade barbs and headlines nightly, a recent behind-the-scenes moment has taken the network by storm. The co-hosts of The Five, Fox’s juggernaut panel show, are no strangers to on-air sparring, but Watters recently escalated their friendly rivalry with a prank so audacious it left Gutfeld stunned, the production team in disarray, and fans buzzing with excitement. The stunt, which involved Watters announcing his own fake firing from Fox News, has become the talk of the media world, showcasing the playful chaos that fuels the network’s top-rated program.

The drama unfolded during a seemingly ordinary pre-show briefing at Fox News’ Manhattan headquarters. The The Five team, including co-hosts Dana Perino, Jeanine Pirro, and Gutfeld, was huddled around a conference table, hashing out segment ideas for the evening’s broadcast. Without warning, Watters stood, his face a mask of grim determination, and delivered a bombshell: he had just been sacked by Fox News executives. His voice steady but heavy, he claimed the decision came straight from the top, part of a sweeping “rebrand” to align the network with a new generation of viewers who craved less controversy and more “mainstream appeal.”

The room froze. Gutfeld, whose razor-sharp wit and irreverent style anchor both The Five and his own late-night hit Gutfeld!, stared at Watters, his usual smirk nowhere to be found. For a man who thrives on turning chaos into comedy, Gutfeld appeared genuinely rattled, his eyes darting as if searching for a punchline that wasn’t there. Watters, ever the showman, leaned into the deception with a performance worthy of an Oscar. He spun a vivid tale of a clandestine meeting with a shadowy network strategist named “Ms. Ellison,” who had allegedly deemed Watters’ brash commentary “out of step” with Fox’s evolving vision. He even threw in a fictional detail about a focus group of Gen Z viewers who found his style “too intense,” prompting executives to pull the plug.

The The Five team, known for their tight-knit camaraderie, was thrown into a tailspin. Perino, the group’s steady hand, began asking cautious questions, her diplomatic tone masking her shock. Pirro, never one to mince words, reportedly clenched her pen as if ready to storm the executive suite in Watters’ defense. Meanwhile, producers exchanged frantic glances, unsure whether to interrupt or let the moment play out. Watters, sensing his audience’s unease, doubled down, turning to Gutfeld with a pointed jab: “Greg, they’re keeping you because Gutfeld! is the cool, edgy show that’s got the TikTok crowd hooked. Me? I’m just the guy yelling about politics—guess that’s not cutting it anymore.” The comment was a calculated strike, poking at Gutfeld’s pride in his show’s unconventional appeal and their ongoing rivalry over who drives The Five’s massive ratings.

For a full 12 minutes, Watters maintained the ruse, answering skeptical questions with deft deflections. He spoke of “transition plans” and hinted at a potential pivot to a podcasting venture, all while projecting a mix of defiance and defeat. Gutfeld, meanwhile, was seen tapping furiously on his phone, likely texting sources to confirm the news. The tension peaked when Watters let out a dramatic sigh, saying, “I’ll miss you all, even you, Greg—though I’m sure you’ll enjoy having one less co-host to steal your spotlight.” Just as the room teetered on the edge of pandemonium, Watters broke character, his stoic facade crumbling into a wide grin as he shouted, “You bought it! Oh, man, Greg, your face!” The revelation that the firing was a prank sent the room into a uproar of laughter, relief, and mock outrage.

Gutfeld, regaining his composure, shot back with a dry, “Jesse, I was about to start a GoFundMe for your unemployment—guess I’ll save my charity for someone else.” But those close to the scene noted a hint of admiration in his tone, as if acknowledging Watters’ ability to pull off such a convincing con. The The Five team spent the rest of the meeting trading jabs, with Pirro jokingly threatening to “sue Jesse for emotional distress” and Perino shaking her head at the “childish antics” that keep the show’s dynamic so electric. Watters, reveling in his triumph, couldn’t resist crowing about “fooling the king of snark,” setting the stage for what promises to be an epic retaliation from Gutfeld.

Word of the prank spread like wildfire, leaking to social media within hours. On platforms like X, fans of The Five dissected the story with fervor, praising Watters’ “next-level trolling” and speculating about Gutfeld’s next move. Posts with hashtags like #WattersPrank and #GutfeldGotGot racked up thousands of interactions, with some users joking that Watters should host a masterclass in deception. The buzz carried over to The Five’s next broadcast, where Watters and Gutfeld leaned into the moment with sly references to “job security” and “trust issues.” Watters, smirking, quipped about “updating his résumé,” while Gutfeld fired back with a mock warning: “Jesse, watch your back—I’ve got a few surprises up my sleeve.” The exchange had viewers howling, cementing the prank as a defining moment in the show’s storied run.

The incident underscored the unique chemistry that has made The Five a ratings powerhouse, averaging 4.6 million viewers nightly and dominating cable news for 14 consecutive quarters. Watters and Gutfeld, both titans in their own right, thrive on pushing each other’s buttons, their rivalry a key ingredient in the show’s appeal. Watters, with his polished delivery and knack for provocation, plays the agitator, while Gutfeld, the sardonic provocateur, counters with biting humor. Their dynamic, while competitive, is grounded in a deep mutual respect, which made Watters’ prank all the more impactful. By convincing Gutfeld that his Fox News tenure was over, Watters struck at the heart of what drives them both: their love for the platform and the audience that keeps them at the top.

The prank also sparked broader reflection on the high-pressure world of cable news, where stars like Watters and Gutfeld must constantly reinvent themselves to stay relevant. The fictional “Ms. Ellison” and her push for a “mainstream” Fox News tapped into real anxieties about the industry’s future, as traditional networks compete with digital upstarts and shifting viewer habits. Watters’ ability to weave these themes into his hoax added a layer of realism that made it all the more convincing, even to a skeptic like Gutfeld.

In the days since, the prank has become a touchstone for The Five’s audience, who relish the show’s blend of serious debate and irreverent humor. On air, Watters has continued to milk the moment, dropping playful hints about “checking his contract” while casting knowing glances at Gutfeld. Gutfeld, for his part, has embraced the narrative, teasing a “counterattack” that he claims will “make Jesse regret ever stepping into my ring.” Insiders speculate that Gutfeld might stage his revenge during a taping of Gutfeld!, possibly enlisting his show’s eclectic cast of comedians to orchestrate a prank that flips the script on Watters.

The viral nature of the incident speaks to the power of personality in modern media, where a single off-air moment can captivate audiences as much as a primetime segment. On X, fans have called for Fox News to release behind-the-scenes footage of the prank, while others have proposed a special The Five episode to unpack the full story. Whether that happens remains to be seen, but the prank has undeniably boosted Watters’ reputation as a maestro of mischief, capable of outwitting even the wiliest of co-hosts.

As the dust settles, the stage is set for the next chapter in the Watters-Gutfeld saga. Gutfeld, known for his knack for turning setbacks into comedic gold, is likely already plotting a retaliation that will keep fans glued to their screens. For now, Watters holds the upper hand, having pulled off a prank that left his colleague—and the internet—reeling. But in the high-stakes game of The Five, where egos clash and laughter reigns, one thing is certain: the battle for supremacy between these two Fox News giants is far from over. As fans eagerly await Gutfeld’s comeback, the prank remains a testament to the unpredictable magic that keeps The Five at the top of the heap.