Fox News host Greg Gutfeld criticized Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge on Tuesday for suggesting that the viral footage of a weekend street brawl did not capture the full context of the incident.
The exchange came during a segment of “The Five,” where Gutfeld questioned the selective use of “context” in public discourse.
The comments followed a violent street altercation that broke out early Saturday morning at the intersection of Elm and Fourth Streets in downtown Cincinnati.
Trump’s Sovereign Wealth Fund: What Could It Mean For Your Money?
Video of the brawl began circulating online shortly after the incident, drawing widespread attention. Police later confirmed that five individuals had been charged in connection with the assault.
During a press conference on Monday, Chief Theetge pushed back against how the incident had been portrayed on social media and by some media outlets, asserting that the public was not seeing the full picture.
“Commentaries and social media coverage distort the content of what actually happened, and it makes our job more difficult,” Theetge said.
NEW: Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge shames people for sharing video footage of a woman getting beaten because the video didn’t “depict the entire incident.”
She’s seriously blaming social media for this?!
The comment comes in response to video footage showing a woman… pic.twitter.com/OhNij3XX3V
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 29, 2025
This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year
She added that officers arrived at the scene six minutes after the first 911 call, which was received at 3:06 a.m.
Theetge’s claim that the video footage lacked context drew a response from Gutfeld, who said, “She should have told us what the context is. If you’re going to say that what we’re seeing isn’t real, then tell us what is real.”
“You can’t just say, ‘Oh, my God, this is terrible. Social media makes everything worse,’” Gutfeld continued.
“We know that, but it’s interesting how the argument of context only goes in one direction.”
Gutfeld compared the situation to other high-profile cases where public reactions were shaped by incomplete or selective information.
He referenced the case of Daniel Penny, the Marine veteran charged with manslaughter after restraining a man who was reportedly acting aggressively on a New York City subway.
“No one cared about the context for the Covington kids. They charged Daniel Perry with murder because they ignored the context completely, that he was being a hero. We ignored the context for George Floyd, i.e. the lethal ingestion of drugs,” Gutfeld said.
The viral video of the Cincinnati brawl, as reported by FOX19, appears to show a large fight breaking out following an incident where a man, described as intoxicated, allegedly made racial comments after returning to the area.
The footage depicts a man being knocked to the ground and stomped by at least three others.
Additional fights are seen breaking out in the background, with one clip ending in a woman seemingly being knocked unconscious.
According to Chief Theetge, while only five individuals have been charged so far, more charges are expected as investigators review evidence and accounts from what she estimated to be around 100 witnesses.
“We are reviewing all available footage and collecting statements to determine who else may be held accountable,” Theetge said during the press briefing.
Gutfeld closed his remarks by expressing skepticism over future explanations: “I’m sure it will come. I mean, there are people that build context for October 7. We saw hours of tape. And there are people going, ‘Well, you know, in the context of the political situation in the Middle East’ — shut the — you know, shut up!”
As the investigation continues, authorities have not yet provided further details on possible additional arrests or a timeline for releasing more information about the suspects or victims involved.