Greg Gutfeld has become a prominent figure in the world of television, particularly known for his engaging presence on Fox News. His rise to fame is not only attributed to his unique style of humor but also to his unexpected journey from a print journalist to a television host. As a one-time editor of Men's Health, Gutfeld's career has taken many turns, ultimately leading him to host his own late-night talk show, "Gutfeld!" which has captivated audiences with its blend of humor and political commentary.
With a background rooted in journalism, Gutfeld has been a staple on Fox News for over a decade. His comedic style, which is often irreverent and politically incorrect, has resonated with a diverse audience, turning casual viewers into loyal fans. From his early days as a contributor in 2007 to his current role as a late-night talk show host, Gutfeld's career trajectory is a testament to his adaptability and understanding of audience dynamics.
This article delves into the untold aspects of Greg Gutfeld's life, exploring his political evolution, career milestones, and the controversies that have shaped his public persona. By examining his journey, readers will gain a deeper understanding of the man behind the persona and the experiences that have influenced his unique brand of comedy.
Table of Contents
- Biography
- His Politics Took a Swerve to the Right During College
- Even He Can't Believe He Was Once Editor of Men's Health
- He Built a Following — And a Brand — on Red Eye
- Greg Gutfeld Married Wife Elena Moussa After Just Five Months of Dating
- He Apologized to Canadians for Mocking the Country's Military
- He Stirred Up Controversy with a Joke About Opening a Gay Bar Next to a Ground Zero Mosque
- Greg Gutfeld Has Authored Numerous Books
- Rumors Swirled That He Engineered Juan Williams' Departure from The Five
- The Reason Greg Gutfeld Is Cautious About Twitter
- He Didn't Realize His Mic Was On When He Ad-Libbed a Song on Live TV About His Need to Urinate
- A Weekend Solo Show Led to Late-Night Success
- He Became the Unexpected King of Late Night
- He Hit the Road for a Live Stage Show
- Fox News Has Been Beneficial to Greg Gutfeld's Bank Account
Biography
| Full Name | Greg Gutfeld |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | September 19, 1964 |
| Occupation | Television Host, Author, Political Commentator |
| Notable Works | Red Eye, Gutfeld! |
| Spouse | Elena Moussa |
His Politics Took a Swerve to the Right During College
Viewers who watch Greg Gutfeld are well-aware that he's politically right-wing with a libertarian flair. However, he wasn't always a dyed-in-the-wool conservative. "As a teenager, I was a liberal," Gutfeld recalled in a 2009 interview with Reason. As he recounted, Gutfeld eventually came to realize that he was "a complete fraud," particularly when he attended left-leaning Berkley as an undergrad.
It was during his college years that his political views evolved, apparently driven by his individualist nature. "I became a conservative by being around liberals and I became a libertarian by being around conservatives," he explained. You realize that there's something distinctly in common between the two groups, the left and the right; the worst part of each of them is the moralizing.
Even He Can't Believe He Was Once Editor of Men's Health
After graduating college, Greg Gutfeld began a career in magazine journalism, starting off with the conservative journal, The American Spectator. As a profile in Reason pointed out, an unsuccessful attempt at screenwriting led Gutfeld to pursue further magazine work, including serving as editor of Men's Health, Stuff, and Maxim's British edition.
While racy men's magazines Stuff and Maxim proved to be a good fit for his irreverent point of view, even Gutfeld had to admit that being editor of Men's Health wasn't a particularly good fit. "I was the only editor of any health magazine that did a feature on how smoking is good for you," he told Reason of an article titled "I Smoke and I Work at Men's Health." As Gutfeld recalled, the piece was not well-received.
He Built a Following — And a Brand — on Red Eye
After his checkered career in print journalism, in 2007, Gutfeld migrated to television. His first stop: Fox News, where he was given a wee-hours time slot for a new insomniacs-only show dubbed "Red Eye." At the time, Gutfeld spoke to Observer about the impression he was trying to get across to the network's viewers. "It's somewhat similar to somebody who's lost his mind," Gutfeld said.
According to Gutfeld, "Red Eye" capitalized on what he perceived to be his biggest strength — and his favorite aspect — of being a magazine editor. As he recalled for Observer, "The best part of the day was when I would just stand there and yell at everybody. That's the only thing I know how to do well: stand and yell at people."
Greg Gutfeld Married Wife Elena Moussa After Just Five Months of Dating
Greg Gutfeld's 2007 interview with Observer mentions his wife, Elena Moussa, whom he met while living in London. According to The Sun, Moussa is a former model and photo editor for the Russian edition of Maxim.
Apparently, Gutfeld's gambit paid off when "she moved to London to be with [him]." At the time of the Daily Beast interview, the couple had recently celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary, with The Sun reporting that they wed in 2004 after a five-month courtship.
He Apologized to Canadians for Mocking the Country's Military
During his years on "Red Eye," Greg Gutfeld's tendency to make outrageous, attention-hunting statements generated controversy — sometimes more than he'd expected. That was the case with an episode in which he mocked Canada's military role in Afghanistan.
Gutfeld's joke upset the Canadians, who responded with outraged backlash — particularly from Peter MacKay, a Canadian Defense Minister at the time, who slammed Gutfeld's remarks as "crass ... insensitive ... in fact disgusting." MacKay demanded an apology.
He Stirred Up Controversy with a Joke About Opening a Gay Bar Next to a Ground Zero Mosque
Insulting Canada was far from the only time that Greg Gutfeld made controversial remarks. In 2010, he took to his blog, The Daily Gut, to share his response to plans for a Muslim community center and mosque on the site of Ground Zero in lower Manhattan.
Gutfeld was adamant that "this is not a joke," pointing out that Islam "does not look kindly upon homosexuality," which is why he was "building this bar." His goal, he claimed, was to "break down barriers and reduce deadly homophobia in the Islamic world."
Greg Gutfeld Has Authored Numerous Books
In addition to his work on television and magazines, Greg Gutfeld is also the author of several books. His first literary effort was a memoir chronicling his experience as an American living in London after he was hired to be editor of the U.K.'s Maxim magazine.
Gutfeld has written two other books for Simon
