Jesse Watters, the 46-year-old Fox News host known for his provocative commentary, has kicked off 2025 in a whirlwind of controversy. From laughable hypocrisy over “rules for men” to a chilling rant about Gaza that sparked accusations of “Nazi-level” rhetoric, Watters has found himself at the center of a storm that’s divided viewers and critics alike. Once seen as a rising star in conservative media, Watters is now a lightning rod for outrage, with the drama escalating by the day.

The “Rules for Men” Debacle: Hypocrisy Exposed

The drama began on March 20, 2025, during The Five, when Watters attempted to rally the MAGA base with a set of “rules for men” that aimed to poke fun at liberal “wokeness.” “No straws, no milkshakes, no soup in public, no leg crossing, and definitely no small dogs,” he declared, as his co-hosts struggled to contain their laughter. His rant, which positioned him as the self-proclaimed authority on masculinity, quickly became an internet sensation—not for the reasons he intended.

The backlash came fast and furious when an old 2023 photo resurfaced showing Watters sipping a drink through a straw at a fancy event. The hypocrisy was palpable, with social media users tearing into him, pointing out the absurdity of the man who preached “no straws” while sipping daintily through one. The ridicule was swift, with one viral tweet joking, “Jesse’s masculinity is more fragile than a milkshake,” earning over 10,000 likes. Memes flooded Twitter, portraying Watters in increasingly ridiculous scenarios: sipping soup in public, crossing his legs, cuddling a Chihuahua—all the things he had just claimed no real man would do.

The “rules for men” segment, which Watters had hoped would rally conservatives, instead exposed him as a target for mockery. While he doubled down on his comments during his primetime show, insisting that the left was trying to “feminize men,” the damage was already done. Watters had become the punchline of the week, a victim of his own inflammatory rhetoric.

Gaza Rant: A Step Too Far?

If the “rules for men” gaffe was embarrassing, Watters’ February 14, 2025, segment on Gaza was downright catastrophic. In a chilling rant on Jesse Watters Primetime, he described the Palestinian birth rate as a “national security threat,” suggesting that it could destabilize the region and endanger American interests. His comments, which echoed Trump’s controversial plan to “take over” Gaza, included a call for “population control,” positioning himself as a supporter of a strategy that was nothing short of alarming.

The reaction was swift and brutal. Former MSNBC anchor Mehdi Hasan accused Watters of “racist and genocidal rhetoric” in a tweet that quickly went viral, garnering over 50,000 likes. Activists, scholars, and Palestinian advocacy groups were furious, calling for an apology and accusing Watters of dehumanizing an entire population. One Twitter user bluntly stated, “Watters is openly advocating for ethnic cleansing on live TV—Fox News needs to answer for this.”

Watters defended his remarks, claiming that he was only talking about security, not race. But the damage was done. His rhetoric, comparing birth rates in Gaza to a “demographic explosion,” evoked disturbing echoes of historical stereotypes used to justify discriminatory policies. The fact that his comments came in the context of a broader geopolitical discussion, including Trump’s plan to annex Gaza, only heightened the controversy. The backlash was not just a one-off incident—it seemed to reflect a wider problem with Watters’ approach to political discourse.

The History That Fuels the Fire

This isn’t the first time Watters has found himself at the center of controversy. His 2016 segment mocking Asian Americans in Chinatown resurfaced, adding to the narrative of a host willing to go to extreme lengths to provoke. Whether it’s his divisive commentary on race or his earlier gaffes, Watters has long walked a fine line between right-wing provocateur and responsible broadcaster. But in 2025, it feels as though he’s crossed over to the other side, with his statements on Gaza and masculinity drawing fire from all sides.

Critics have accused Fox News of enabling Watters’ controversial takes, prioritizing ratings over accountability. The fact that Watters continues to dominate the primetime slot, averaging 4.186 million viewers in February 2025, has led some to wonder: is Fox News profiting off controversy at the expense of responsible journalism?

A Provocateur at the Crossroads

Jesse Watters’ 2025 drama has exposed him as a provocateur at the crossroads of professional success and public backlash. The “rules for men” debacle turned him into a meme, his masculinity questioned by fans and critics alike. His Gaza rant, however, took things to a darker place, drawing accusations of racism and even genocide. In a year filled with intense political and cultural battles, Watters’ willingness to go to extreme lengths for shock value has made him a deeply divisive figure—loved by conservatives, loathed by many others, and a constant lightning rod for controversy.

The question now is whether Watters can continue to walk this tightrope. His controversial statements have earned him both fierce loyalty from his base and fierce condemnation from his critics. But with each scandal, the risk of crossing a line grows, and the firestorm surrounding him continues to intensify. As Fox News remains silent on his most recent remarks, the question lingers: How long can Watters keep playing with fire before it burns him—and the network—too?