Shark Tank star ripped by female CNN panellist for touching her during heated debate over Elon Musk

A Shark Tank judge had an awkward exchange with a female panellist during a heated argument over Elon Musk.

Kevin O’Leary was slammed by a fellow CNN guest for touching her during a heated argument over Elon Musk’s GOP donations — and in response, the Shark Tank star said he “won’t ever do it again.”

Tensions boiled over during CNN NewsNighton Wednesday as O’Leary and Angela Rye, former executive director and general counsel to the Congressional Black Caucus, traded jabs over the billionaire’s gifts to Republican politicians.

At one point, O’Leary apparently touched Rye off-camera, as she said: “You don’t have to touch me.”

“I did that nicely,” the infamous investor said quietly.

Rye responded: “I don’t want you to touch me. That’s my personal space.”

“I won’t ever do it again,” O’Leary said.

Legal analyst Angela Rye told Kevin O’Leary that he invaded her “personal space” as they sparred on CNN. Picture: CNN

The two sparred over the ethics involved in Musk’s donations to members of Congress who support impeaching federal judges who have blocked President Trump’s actions. Musk has reportedly made the maximum allowable donation to several Republican policymakers.

Host Abby Phillip steered the conversation by asking whether the donations could be considered a form of lobbying.

A frustrated Rye argued that Musk’s donations went beyond lobbying and were criminal, as she and O’Leary spoke over one another.

Tensions boiled during CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip (right). Picture: CNN

“He [Musk] literally says thank you to the members who introduce articles of impeachment,” Rye said. “That is an exchange of value. That is a violation.”

O’Leary retorted: “The oldest profession on Earth is not prostitution — it’s politicians raising money.”

The Canadian businessman is one of the judges on US Shark Tank.

“That has happened from the beginning of time. That’s going on forever, and will continue forever,” O’Leary continued. “This issue around judges, this is pure politics … No laws have been broken. You don’t like it? Too bad.”

Musk has donated $US6,600 — what, until recently, was the legal maximum hard-dollar donation — to the campaigns of seven Republicans who have called for “action” or the impeachment of judges who have halted Trump’s actions, according to the New York Times.

Federal judges have temporarily blocked several of Trump’s moves, including his attempts to end birthright citizenship, freeze foreign aid and ban transgender people from the military.

This article originally appeared in New York Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Shark Tank star ripped by female CNN panellist for touching her during heated debate over Elon Musk