Ron the Waiter Caught in 'Puppet Master' Lie Regarding Anthony Cumia
"I've never DM'd Ron... one of your problems is that you believe everything anyone tells you." — Anthony Cumia
In one of the most embarrassing "rake-stepping" moments of the year, Ron the Waiter was exposed for lying about receiving supportive direct messages from Anthony Cumia. Ron claimed on Opie's show that Cumia was a "big fan" and was DMing him to praise his work and mock Opie's lack of appreciation. Opie initially fell for the ruse, using it as an excuse to rail against his former partner's "creepy" behavior. The "juicy" payoff occurred when Anthony Cumia himself texted Opie in the middle of a broadcast to debunk the story. Cumia clarified that he had never DM'd Ron and that Opie was a "knuckle" for believing a troll account. Ron, caught red-handed, desperately tried to pivot, claiming he couldn't prove the DM because it was "on his phone" and he didn't know how to take a screenshot. The drama escalated further when Ron attempted to save face by claiming WATP and Anthony Cumia were trying to "woo him" with a full-time job offer. Ron even called Anthony the "puppet master" behind the Who Are These Podcasts network. Blind Mike and Karl laughed off the claim, noting that "people are fucking with Ron" and that he has simply become a "pathological liar" trying to keep his gig with Opie. Ultimately, Anthony Cumia had to log into Facebook—a platform he reportedly hasn't used in years—specifically to message Ron and tell him he had been "bamboozled." The story highlights the deep-seated paranoia in the "Opie-verse," with Opie's hatred for Anthony making him the perfect target for trolls. Karl concluded that Ron's "ballsy move" was likely a desperate attempt to stay relevant, but "no one wants to hire you anyway."