'You are a lying scum bag' — Greg Gutfeld slams liberal media reporter accusing 'The Five' of ignoring coronavirus

Greg Gutfeld slammed a reporter from a liberal media watchdog group for claiming "The Five" on Fox News had ignored the coronavirus and downplayed the threat.

"You called me a liar when there is footage of me showing the importance it was taken. You are a lying scum bag for knowing that fact and denying it. You know you lied. Now be a man and admit it," tweeted Gutfeld to Andrew Lawrence of Media Matters for America.

Gutfeld pointed to a video of his comments from Jan. 28 on "The Five" where he talks about how medical experts were worried about the coronavirus. He was defending President Donald Trump's decision to restrict air travel from China.

Lawrence relied on two quotes from Gutfeld's co-host, Jesse Watters, to substantiate his claim against the show. In one quote from March 3, Watters said that he was not worried about the virus.

"You want to know how I really feel about the coronavirus, Juan? If I get it, I'll beat it," said Watters in the quote.

"I'm not lying. It's called the power of positive thinking and I think America needs to wake up to that. I live in Manhattan, I got off work the other night, went straight to the subway. Asian guy sits down to me — mask on. What do I do? Finish the ride, then I go home and I order Chinese food. I'm not afraid of the coronavirus, and no one else should be that afraid either," he adds.

New York City has since become one of the worst hot spots for coronavirus cases and deaths.

Lawrence also quoted Watters admitting on March 16 that he had not taken the social distancing order seriously:

I went to visit my mom this weekend and she made me wear gloves to come inside of her house. She is suspicious that I might have coronavirus. I wore the gloves all afternoon in the house. That's what it is. I didn't take the social distancing that seriously Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night, I went out to dinner here in the city. And I woke up this morning I realized that was not the right move. I am no longer going out to dinner. I was trying to help my local restaurants.

Gutfeld demanded a retraction based on the video of his comments on the show from Jan. 28.

"Care to comment. We covered the virus early and often. Retract now," he tweeted.

Here's a Gutfeld commentary on the virus from February:

Gutfeld on the media reaction to the coronaviruswww.youtube.com