Comedian and radio personality Jess Hilarious hashed out some issues with her co-hosts on the Breakfast Club Wednesday after a vent session on Instagram live this week.
Jess, whose name is Jess Moore, has been a co-host on the Breakfast Club since early 2024, replacing longtime co-host Angela Yee on the popular show discussing culture, music and the occasional beef among celebrities and musicians. But when Moore went on maternity leave last summer, she picked Loren LoRosa − a former TMZ news producer − to fill in for her on Moore’s own segment, called Jess with the Mess, wrote iHeartMedia on its website.
Moore returned to the show on Nov. 8 after giving birth to her daughter, but LoRosa stayed with the company as an on-air personality and eventually began hosting her own segment.
Moore’s main issue, she said, was that LoRosa’s show was pushed to her slot and the news producer was seemingly brought on as a regular for the Breakfast Club without anyone telling her that was the plan.
Made up of Moore, Charlamagne Tha God and DJ Envy, the Breakfast Club hosts have six million listeners globally. Here’s what to know about the situation.
What did Jess Hilarious say during her livestream?
Since Moore joined the Breakfast Club, some listeners have criticized her talent, saying she’s not funny, doesn’t offer much insight on topics and they find her difficult to listen to.
Comedian Corey Holcomb also spoke out recently and said Moore got the job at the Breakfast Club due to her social media presence, not merit.
“I always said she wasn’t talented,” he said. “She got the job and got knocked up shortly afterwards, and the worst thing in the world happened. They brought in somebody who’s talented.”
He said LoRosa fits in well with the show’s co-hosts and in his opinion, she’s a better presenter and reader than Moore.
While livestreaming Tuesday night, Moore brushed off his remarks and said Holcomb never liked her anyway.
She expressed frustration that she’s no longer hosting the show she pushed for and earned though. She said LoRosa should have her own segment at a different time.
“You try coming back to work and the (expletive) is right there at your desk, and ain’t nobody telling you (expletive),” she said during her livestream Tuesday night. “Before you know it, everybody thinking you’re the villain … like I’m the villain because I didn’t know (expletive). I’m sick of that.”
She said if she had known beforehand that the three-person show would turn into a four-person show, it wouldn’t have been so jarring.
She said she was enjoying being on the show before she got pregnant and had to go on maternity leave, and stressed that there’s never a right time to have a baby in the media industry. She doesn’t regret having a baby and planned to do so, but she also “wanted Breakfast Club.”
She said she didn’t like LoRosa when she first returned to the show, but added that eventually the two made up and she recognizes her talent.
“I compliment this girl every day,” Moore said. “It ain’t forced. She’s a beautiful girl. She knows her (expletive).”
She added that LoRosa’s show is “flawless” but Moore herself fought for that spot.
Moore said studio energy has been ‘weird’ since return
On Wednesday morning, LoRosa and Moore tried to hash out their issues on air. When DJ Envy asked Moore how he and Charlamagne don’t have her back, she said with everything being said about her online, no one stood up for her or cleared things up.
The energy in the studio has been “weird” since she came back, Moore said. Moore said people have made her feel as if her show isn’t good enough anymore now that LoRosa is there. She also stressed that at one point, she was hosting Jess with the Mess while introducing LoRosa to deliver the news. In her mind, they should’ve just given the segment to LoRosa.
Moore also stressed that she was hired as herself, not a reporter like LoRosa.
Charlamagne said the plan was always for Moore to be the host and LoRosa to be a senior news producer.
DJ Envy argued they could have discussed the show issues behind the scenes, rather than on air.
‘You have to be OK for all of this to be OK’
Eventually LoRosa spoke and said she could understand some of what Moore said on her livestream, but some of it caught her off guard. She mentioned that she previously had discussions with Moore to improve their working relationship.
LoRosa later added that she has spoken up publicly to let listeners know there were no issues between the two women. She could tell Moore was upset, but no one talked about it, which did more damage than good.
To work through their issues, conversations will have to happen, LoRosa said, noting that she had to say something when she saw Moore crying.
“It’s happening with love,” LoRosa said. “You have to be OK for all of this to be OK. I’m a producer at the end of the day. You’re my talent. We’re going to be straight. Everything’s going to be fine.”
Those wanting to listen to the full episode can visit www.tinyurl.com/JessandLoren.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at [email protected].
Leave a Reply