John Catsimatidis Reflects on Bitter Feud with Rudy Giuliani

Billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis has expressed profound disappointment over his conflict with longtime friend Rudy Giuliani, saying he has “tears in his eyes.” This tension escalated further on Monday when Giuliani filed a lawsuit against him.

Catsimatidis mentioned to reporters that Giuliani, who has been a steadfast ally during challenging times, was rocked by the news of the lawsuit, which led to Giuliani’s dismissal from his WABC radio show in 2024.

“I’m very disappointed in my friend right now,” Catsimatidis said, noting that his media company owns the local station. He shared these feelings just before a broadcast on Monday evening.

“I always supported him when he faced tough moments,” he added, visibly upset.

Catsimatidis remarked on Giuliani’s difficult legal circumstances following the 2020 election, saying, “President Trump couldn’t help him. He was out of office,” referring to Giuliani’s transition from wealth to making cameo appearances on social media.

“I helped him out,” Catsimatidis insisted.

A source disclosed that during Giuliani’s struggles—when he was nearly homeless—Catsimatidis stood by him. “Instead of honoring their friendship, he files a lawsuit,” the source quipped.

Giuliani’s lawsuit claims he was fired for standing up for his co-host Dr. Maria Ryan, who has also taken legal action against Catsimatidis for wage-related gender discrimination.

Giuliani’s suit runs parallel to Ryan’s, where she alleges she received significantly less pay—only $200 per show—compared to her male counterparts.

“I had been raising concerns with the station about Dr. Maria’s pay,” Giuliani stated, suggesting this contributed to his exit.

He criticized Catsimatidis for not treating women equally in the workplace, saying, “There was definitely some hostility toward women at work. Women complained to me.”

However, Catsimatidis firmly stated, “We have done nothing wrong,” lamenting how their relationship has deteriorated. “We’ll go to court. Let the judge decide,” he stated.

He clarified they didn’t fire Giuliani but rather placed him on suspension for a few days, after which he chose not to return.

A source close to the situation emphasized, “John was never going to get rid of him. He treated him like a brother.”

Catsimatidis expressed surprise and sadness over the lawsuit, mentioning the last time he saw Giuliani was six months prior at a dinner where they shared a hug. He noted that Ryan was also present but they didn’t interact.

“I don’t think she likes us very much,” he observed.

A source reflected on Giuliani’s decline, attributing it to “alcohol and women,” and mused that if Giuliani had remained married to his first wife, he might have been president by now.