There has been a vibrant conversation over the last several years about celebrities receiving honorary degrees. Recently, “Watch What Happens Live” host Andy Cohen became the latest public figure to not only have a doctorate bestowed upon him, but to face backlash from those who say it’s undeserved.
Cohen took to social media on May 15 to share that he was not only giving the commencement address at Washington University in St. Louis but also receiving a degree. He said, “I’m also getting an honorary degree, and I’ve come to understand that I am going to be a doctor.”
After that, he jokingly wondered if he should refer to himself as “doctor Cohen” or “doctor love.” In the video, Cohen was wearing the traditional graduation gown and hood. It’s worth noting that Cohen hails from St. Louis and that much of his family attended the university.
According to the university’s offical website, Cohen received his honorary doctorate in Fine Arts. He was one of seven honorees at the ceremony.
Cohen Shared Thoughts On The Honor
Cohen spoke with news outlet KSDK following there ceremony at Washington University in St. Louis. He described the day as “daunting.” According to him, “Today was daunting. It was bigger than I think I expected it to be.”
He continued, “It was exciting. It meant a lot. It was incredibly emotional.” After that, he reportedly excitedly told a crowd, “I’m a doctor.” Cohen also called receiving his degree “an incredible honor.”
During his commencement speech, Cohen spoke about the importance of authenticity and how to handle social and professional situations. This includes saying “yes” at the correct times but also understanding the importance of “no.”
Following the news of Cohen’s honorary doctorate, social media users, including Bravo fans, took issue with the practice. Namely, the general consensus is that it’s unfair for students who not only dedicate themselves to academia but also often have to take out predatory loans to finance their education.
One person said on X, “What little credibility Washington University had has been wiped away with giving Andy Cohen an honorary degree. Like, why?” In defending the university, a different social media user replied, “Little credibility??? literally one of the best universities in the Midwest.”
A different person reacted to Cohen’s jokes on the day of the ceremony, noting, “His jokes remind us that academia has become a joke.” Someone else stated, “Proving what a joke ‘higher education’ has become.”
After that, one commentator said, “Honorary degrees shouldn’t exist.” However, it wasn’t all hate for Cohen. One person reacted, “Well, this is interesting. My cousin got his architecture master’s from there, and it’s one of the best schools in the country. Shows you the bandwidth of Bravo, haha.”
The Bravo Host Has A New Book Coming Out
In addition to receiving his honorary doctorate, Cohen has several projects in various stages of development. According to Bravo, this includes a new book. Called “Andy’s Bravo Scrapbook,” the upcoming book will be released on October 20.
He described it, saying, “I’ve been working on it for a while. You can say I’ve been working on it for 20 years because this is the ultimate Bravo coffee table book. It’s the ultimate Bravo photo album.”
Cohen also stated that the scrapbook includes “reflections of my time at Bravo working with some of the greatest people in the world. People that we all love. These are my photos. I’m taking you behind over 100 reunion shows, behind-the-scenes — and a whole lot more. It’s a beautiful book. I’m so proud of it.”
This will be Cohen’s fourth book, his first since 2021’s “Glitter Every Day: 365 Quotes from Women I Love.”
Cohen Will Be On Radio & TV For Years to Come
Cohen has been a staple at Bravo since the early 2000s. Since then, in many ways, he’s become the face of the network, thanks both to “Watch What Happens Live” and his reunion hosting duties. Of course, he’s still executive producer of the “Housewives.”
According to Deadline, his late-night talk show was renewed through 2027. This news came in September 2025 and was confirmed with the May 2026 upfronts. Additionally, NBCUniversal extended his first look deal through 2028. That’s not all. Also in September of 2025, SiriusXM extended Cohen’s contract for another three years amid his 10-year anniversary with the company.