Jeff Lewis Criticized Andy Cohen Over Babysitter Pay
Jeff Lewis questioned Andy Cohen after a public debate regarding competitive wages for childcare workers.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Child Care
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Jeff Lewis publicly criticized Andy Cohen for seeking validation from friends regarding his $30 hourly babysitter pay rate. The disagreement followed Cohen attempting to prove he was not underpaying his staff after facing criticism.
Why it matters
The dispute highlights the varying compensation structures and social pressures faced by public figures regarding domestic labor costs. Cohen sought to defend his rates to acquaintances to address public claims that he was being cheap.
Andy Cohen pays his babysitter $30 per hour, while Jeff Lewis pays his staff $37.50 per hour. Lewis additionally provides a $100 bonus for 30-minute foot massages, totaling $300 in such bonuses over one week.
The players
Jeff Lewis
He is a 56-year-old television personality and radio host known for his interior design career and reality television appearances.
Andy Cohen
He is a 58-year-old television executive, producer, and host known for his work on the Bravo network and his radio channel.
The details
Jeff Lewis challenged Cohen on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast, arguing that Cohen should not have texted others to justify his pay scale. Cohen had previously defended his compensation level to Page Six following comments made on his radio show.
Timeline
September 28, 2026: Lewis labeled Cohen as cheap on Andy Cohen Live.
September 30, 2026: Cohen defended his pay rates in a statement to Page Six.
October 6, 2026: Lewis further discussed the disagreement on a podcast episode.
Culture Shift
This dispute reflects the growing public fascination with the private domestic arrangements of high-profile celebrities. It highlights how personal labor practices are increasingly being weighed against broader industry standards for household support.
The public debate encourages families to evaluate their own childcare budgets against regional cost-of-living metrics and supplemental service expectations. It highlights the importance of clearly defining job requirements and additional compensation for tasks beyond standard care.
The takeaway
Discussions regarding childcare compensation can be complicated when supplemental services are included in the pay structure. Readers may find it beneficial to standardize their own childcare agreements to prevent misunderstandings between employers and staff.
Further reading
For more information on national standards, visit the Child Care section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Page Six.
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