'Shark Tank' Alum Kevin O'Leary Gets Into On-Air Debate With CNN's Bakri Sellers, and It Got Heated
In today's political climate, it's not unusual to see people verbally sparring online. However, what is unusual is seeing people like Bakari Sellers and Kevin O'Leary get into it. Both men appeared together on CNN's NewsNight with Abby Phillip last Monday, and neither of them minced words.
The topic that had them so fired up? The Supreme Court's ruling on Alabama's gerrymandered map, which creates a mostly republican stronghold for politicians, leaving many voters feeling disenfranchised. Keep reading to find out what caused the blow-up and how Phillip had to redirect the men to get her show back on track.
@townhallmedia Bakari Sellers yelled "Don't be a dick!" at Kevin O'Leary on CNN NewsNight after losing the argument over Democrat gerrymandering. O'Leary's response: "I'm not a (obscenity).I'm pointing something out to you. The Constitution is being upheld. Do you have a problem with the Constitution of the United States of America?" bakarisellers kevinoleary mrwonderful cnn democrats gerrymandering
♬ original sound - Townhall - Townhall
Sellers and O'Leary Traded Verbal Blows During On-Air Fight
The argument started when Phillip made a comment about the lack of representation many people have in the U.S. government today due to political moves like gerrymandering, saying that the minority party has "effectively zero representation in Congress," according to the New York Post.
Sellers and O'Leary were quick to jump in on the topic, with O'Leary saying that, "I think everybody should take confidence in the fact that the Supreme Court basically supported one vote, one person, guaranteed in perpetuity, and the rest is just map wars," O'Leary said. "At the end of the day, the state decides at the state level. It's in the Constitution. Get over it."
But Sellers pushed back on his fellow panelist, pointing out the fact that there have been changes in both men's lifetimes that were meant to make things more accessible, like Brown v. Board of Education.
"And so there is an entire generation of people-Brown v. Board, it overturned Plessy v. Ferguson," Sellers went on before O'Leary cut him off.
"And your point is? Bring it, bring it, bring it," the Shark Tank alum said. An angry Sellers didn't hold back, though, and explained how his mother desegregated schools and how his father was shot while working in the civil rights movement before O'Leary cut him off again, drawing even more ire from Sellers.
"I'm gonna finish, because you're being utterly disrespectful," Sellers continued. "So what I'm telling you is that there are people in this country who fought, died, and bled for the right to vote. Don't be a d--k. Just understand –"
At this point, Phillip cut him off and asked the men to be more respectful of one another.
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O'Leary Didn't Seem Upset About the Comment
While the two men continued to argue over the redistricting, it seemed like O'Leary was no worse for wear afterward, even joking about being called "Mr. D--k" instead.
Clearly, the two men are on very opposite sides of the political spectrum, with O'Leary leaning further to the right than the former South Carolina House member. However, Sellers raised some good points about the importance of representation, no matter which political party is in the White House.
While neither man will ever see eye to eye on the topic, it's good that they are having a public dialogue so that others can better understand why people like Sellers are so upset about what is happening at the state level, which often doesn't get as much news coverage.
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This story was originally published May 18, 2026 at 12:47 PM.