Branson Dumps Water on Stephen Colbert

Spat was unplanned and awkward, say audience members
By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 14, 2007 5:40 PM CDT
Branson Dumps Water on Stephen Colbert
In this image released by Virgin America, Richard Branson, Founder and Chairman of the Virgin Group, uncorks bubbly as he and Virgin America CEO Fred Reid, left, stand near the plane named, "air colbert" as they christen the inaugural flight of Virgin America, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007 in New York. Virgin...   (Associated Press)

Tycoon Richard Branson one-upped Stephen Colbert when he threw a glass of water at the fake news anchor on last night's Comedy Central show. Branson was miffed that he didn't get to plug his new airline on the Report, even after christening an airplane for the host. Colbert, always thinking on his feet, retaliated by requesting his own bottle of water and tossing it at the mogul, but viewers say the spat seemed ad hoc and unpleasantly tense.

One audience member described the moment: "The two of them sat for a very uncomfortable second looking like two wet cats." Assistants broke out a new jacket and a blow-dryer for Colbert, who still had several segments to record. Branson will rerecord the show next week; the original water sports will air next week. "As most people know, Richard can be unpredictable," says a Virgin spokesman. (More Stephen Colbert stories.)

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