Sherri Shepherd Apologizes to Recovering Alcoholic Elizabeth Vargas for Suggesting They “Get Drunk” Together

Sherri Shepherd was forced to apologize after she found herself in hot water with fans when she pressed guest Elizabeth Vargas — who is a recovering alcoholic — to “get drunk” with her on Thursday’s (June 1) episode of Sherri.

During the interview, the TV personalities were discussing the trials of motherhood when Shepherd joked, “I’m going to take you to the bar, we’re going to drink, we’re going to have a drink,” to which Vargas said she would have her “classic club soda with cranberry juice” but encouraged the host to “pound some shots.”

Shepherd told her guest that she was “no fun,” but insisted that they would go out together regardless.

“You and me, we’re going to be at the bar going, ‘It’s not news tonight!’ That’s what we’ve got to do,” she added.

Later on in the segment, Shepherd suggested yet again that the duo have a boozy night out.

“One day, after you do NewsNation and iCrime, when we go to the bar and we get drunk and have a good time and we end up talking to some people,” she began, before Vargas chimed in, “You get drunk. I’ll be your designated driver.”

Despite the hints, Shepherd continued, “You come home and write a fictional book with a lot of sex. Crime with a lot of sex!”

After fans demanded an apology from Shepherd, Vargas confirmed to Entertainment Weekly that the former View host did say she was sorry for the insensitive remarks.

“Sherri called to apologize — she was very gracious. She just didn’t know. It’s not a big deal. I was not at all upset,” Vargas told the outlet.

Meanwhile, Shepherd released her own statement about the incident.

“Sometimes when you’re doing live TV, you make mistakes. Today that happened during my Elizabeth Vargas interview and I’m sorry for that,” she said, per EW. “She was very gracious about it in the moment and on the phone when I called her to apologize afterwards. And she is looking forward to returning next season.”

Decider has reached out to Sherri’s reps for comment but did not hear back by time of publication.

Vargas — who previously worked as the anchor for ABC News — has been open about her struggles with alcohol as well as her time spent in rehab. While speaking on Katie Couric‘s Next Question podcast last year, the veteran journalist discussed the “stigma” behind seeking treatment and how she came to terms with her addiction.

“I kept it very, very hidden, in a similar way to how I kept my anxiety hidden,” she said. “I was self-medicating. I was in denial because I thought, I can’t be an alcoholic. I’m not homeless, I’m not jobless, I’m a mother, I’m a wife, I’m a network news anchor. I’m all these things. Therefore I cannot be an alcoholic.”

She added, “It wasn’t rehab that finally got me to stay to get sober. It was me quietly deciding, I can’t do this anymore. I can’t lie anymore. I can’t hide this anymore. And I don’t want to. That’s the key. There’s gotta be another option here.”

Sherri airs on weekdays at 10 a.m. ET on FOX.