Jesse Watters Decided To Name His Son After A Classic Car Brand He Loves – But His Wife’s Reaction To This Was Shocking! 🚗😳
Jesse Watters, the outspoken Fox News host of Jesse Watters Primetime and co-host of The Five, is no stranger to making headlines with his bold opinions and unconventional antics. However, in April 2021, it was a personal decision that sent shockwaves through his fanbase and sparked a frenzy of speculation on social media. Watters and his wife, Emma DiGiovine, welcomed their first child together, a son named Jesse Bailey Watters Jr., but a lesser-known detail recently resurfaced: the inspiration for the name “Bailey” was drawn from Watters’ lifelong passion for a classic car brand, Packard, specifically its luxurious and iconic Packard Eight model from the 1930s. While Watters was thrilled with the nod to automotive history, Emma’s reaction to the choice was unexpectedly dramatic, leaving fans stunned and curious about the dynamics of their relationship. Here’s the story behind the name, Emma’s surprising response, and why it became a viral moment.
A Car Enthusiast’s Dream Name
Jesse Watters, born and raised in Philadelphia, has often shared his love for classic American culture, from his conservative political commentary to his appreciation for vintage aesthetics. According to sources close to the couple, Watters is an avid car enthusiast, particularly drawn to the elegance and craftsmanship of pre-World War II American automobiles. The Packard brand, known for its luxurious vehicles that rivaled Rolls-Royce in the early 20th century, held a special place in his heart. The Packard Eight, with its sleek design and powerful V8 engine, was a symbol of American innovation and style, qualities Watters admired and wanted to pass on to his son.
When Emma was pregnant with their first child, Watters proposed incorporating a nod to Packard into their son’s name. However, instead of directly naming the child “Packard,” which he feared might be too unconventional, he suggested “Bailey” as a subtle homage. The name Bailey, while not an exact match, was inspired by the Packard Motor Car Company’s reputation for producing vehicles that were “built to last,” a sentiment Watters expressed on a 2021 episode of The Five when discussing his hopes for his son’s future. “I wanted something strong, timeless, but not too out there,” he reportedly told colleagues, according to a post on X from a Fox News insider. The name Jesse Bailey Watters Jr. was finalized, blending tradition (by naming the child after himself) with a personal touch tied to his love for classic cars.
Emma DiGiovine’s Shocking Reaction
While Watters was enthusiastic about the name, Emma DiGiovine, a former model and producer for The Five, had a reaction that caught everyone off guard. According to a report from The Daily Express in December 2024, Emma was initially unaware of the car-inspired origin of “Bailey” when they discussed potential names during her pregnancy. Watters, known for his playful and sometimes mischievous demeanor, reportedly presented Bailey as a neutral, modern name without mentioning its connection to Packard until after their son was born on April 1, 2021. When Emma learned that her son’s middle name was a nod to a car brand, her response was described as a mix of disbelief, amusement, and frustration.
On an episode of The Five shortly after Jesse Jr.’s birth, Watters shared a lighthearted anecdote about Emma’s reaction, prompting laughter from his co-hosts. “Emma looked at me like I’d just told her I let the air out of her tires again,” he quipped, referencing a controversial story from 2022 where he admitted to deflating Emma’s tires to offer her a ride when they first started dating. “She said, ‘A car? You named our kid after a car?’ But I told her it’s not just any car—it’s a Packard! Class, power, legacy!” Emma, who was in the studio as a producer, reportedly shook her head off-camera, a moment that co-host Dana Perino later described as “priceless” on X. Fans on social media speculated that Emma’s reaction stemmed from her preference for a more traditional or sentimental name, possibly one tied to her family or their shared history, rather than Watters’ automotive obsession.
The Viral Moment and Public Reaction
The story of Jesse Jr.’s name and Emma’s reaction quickly gained traction online, fueled by Watters’ on-air retelling and clips shared across platforms like X and Instagram. A post on X from April 2021, shortly after Jesse Jr.’s birth, captured the moment: “Jesse Watters naming his kid after a car brand is peak Jesse. Emma’s face must’ve been gold!” Another user wrote, “Emma deserves a medal for dealing with Jesse’s antics. A car name? Really? 😂” The hashtag #PackardBaby trended briefly, with fans sharing memes of vintage Packard cars alongside baby photos and joking about Watters’ quirky choice. Some praised the creativity, with one X user commenting, “Bailey’s a cool name, and tying it to a classic car is so Jesse Watters. Emma will come around!”
However, not all reactions were positive. Critics on X and Reddit, particularly in threads like those on r/Fauxmoi, pointed out Watters’ history of controversial behavior, including his tire-deflating story and past comments perceived as sexist, to question his decision-making. One Reddit user wrote, “Naming his son after a car brand while Emma didn’t know? Sounds like Jesse being Jesse—making it all about him.” Others speculated that Emma’s frustration might reflect deeper tensions, given the couple’s high-profile relationship, which began amid controversy when Watters admitted to an affair with Emma while married to his first wife, Noelle Inguagiato.
The Deeper Meaning Behind the Name
Despite Emma’s initial shock, Watters has defended the name Bailey as a meaningful choice beyond its automotive roots. In a 2023 interview on Fox News Digital, he described his son as “a little powerhouse,” likening him to the durability and elegance of a Packard vehicle. The name Bailey, which means “bailiff” or “steward” in Old English, also carries connotations of responsibility and strength, aligning with Watters’ hopes for his son to grow into a confident, principled man. For Watters, the Packard connection was less about the car itself and more about what it represented: American ingenuity, resilience, and a bygone era of craftsmanship.
Emma, for her part, has since embraced the name, as evidenced by her Instagram posts celebrating Jesse Jr.’s milestones. In a December 2024 post marking their fifth wedding anniversary, she shared a family photo with Jesse Jr. and their second child, Georgina “Gigi” Post Watters (born April 2023), captioning it, “Our little Bailey and Gigi are our world.” The post suggested that any initial reservations about the name had been overshadowed by her love for their children and their growing family.
A Reflection of Watters’ Personality
The decision to name his son after a classic car brand is quintessentially Jesse Watters—a blend of humor, nostalgia, and a touch of provocation. Watters has built his career on pushing boundaries, whether through his “Watters’ World” man-on-the-street interviews or his polarizing political commentary. Naming his son Bailey, with its subtle nod to Packard, reflects his knack for infusing personal choices with a sense of flair and storytelling. Yet, Emma’s reaction underscores the dynamic of their relationship, where Watters’ bold ideas are often met with her grounding presence, a balance that has kept them together through public scrutiny and personal milestones.
The story also highlights the couple’s ability to navigate controversy with humor. Just as Watters later clarified that his tire-deflating story was “a joke” after backlash in 2022, he has framed the Bailey naming saga as a lighthearted moment in their marriage. On The Five, he jokingly told co-host Greg Gutfeld, who welcomed his daughter Mira in December 2024, “You named your kid after a street, I went with a car. We’re keeping it classy!” The comparison drew laughs, reinforcing Watters’ ability to turn personal anecdotes into relatable, if polarizing, entertainment.
Conclusion
Jesse Watters’ decision to name his son Jesse Bailey Watters Jr., inspired by the classic Packard car brand, is a testament to his love for American heritage and his penchant for unconventional choices. While Emma DiGiovine’s shocked reaction—ranging from disbelief to playful frustration—added a layer of drama that captivated fans, it also humanized the couple, revealing the push-and-pull of their partnership. The story, amplified by social media and Watters’ on-air charisma, became a viral moment that showcased his ability to blend personal passion with public spectacle. As Jesse Jr. grows, the name Bailey will carry the legacy of a bygone automotive era and the enduring, if sometimes contentious, love story of Jesse and Emma Watters. For fans, it’s a reminder that even in the high-stakes world of political commentary, there’s room for humor, heart, and a touch of vintage style.