Chris Cuomo Faces Backlash After He Avoids Covering Andrew Cuomo Scandal On CNN, Meghan McCain Says It's 'The Worst Kind Of Nepotism'
Chris Cuomo is in the hot seat after opting not to discuss New York Attorney General Letitia James' bombshell report that found his brother, Governor Andrew Cuomo, had sexually harassed several women.
All eyes were on the CNN anchor when he did not address the elephant in the room on the Tuesday, August 3, episode of Cuomo Prime Time. He also did not address his brother's scandal on the Wednesday, August 4, episode either.
Chris reportedly helped his older brother draft previous statements about the sexual harassment allegations, the Attorney General's report noted. The 50-year-old issued an apology on CNN earlier this year for putting his co-workers in a "bad spot" and said that "it will not happen again."
Meanwhile, Don Lemon and Chris shared a bizarre moment on Tuesday while closing out Chris' segment, where the men said they loved each other before Lemon covered the AG's report on his own show only moments later.
The 55-year-old said that the calls for Andrew to resign were getting "louder and louder" ... "in the wake of a bombshell report from the state's attorney general that alleges the governor sexually harassed 11 women, including state employees and a state trooper."
Although there is a rule on CNN that prevents Chris from interviewing and covering stories about his brother, the network explained in a previous statement that they had made an exception during the coronavirus pandemic when the brothers spoke on air "about the challenges of what millions of American families were struggling." CNN said that the "rule remains in place today" and that they have "covered the news surrounding Governor Cuomo extensively" when the governor was criticized when it came to how the reporting of COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes was handled.
One of those speaking out against Chris avoiding covering his brother's scandal is The View's Meghan McCain, who said the anchor was an example of "the worst kind of nepotism."
- Chris Cuomo Says He's 'Not An Adviser, I'm A Brother' In Light Of Governor Andrew Cuomo Sexual Harassment Scandal
- Chris Cuomo Used 'Sources' To Seek Information About His Brother Andrew's Accusers, According To Released Text Message Exchanges
- Sandra Lee Is Reportedly 'Worried' About Ex-Boyfriend Andrew Cuomo's Three Daughters Following Sexual Harassment Allegations
"Not having to talk about the biggest scandal in the country when it has to do with your brother and you’re hosting CNN, that’s nepotism," the 36-year-old said.
"Say whatever you want about me but if my dad or brother had an investigation completed about their disgusting behavior sexually harassing women I wouldn’t be a p***y and not talk about it on my show — cause my job is to talk about the news. But I ain’t a Cuomo (thank God)," McCain responded to a Twitter user who said that people would not know who she is without her late father John McCain.
McCain wasn't the only one who expressed anger towards Chris.
"If CNN, from the start, had just said: Chris Cuomo cannot objectively report on his brother and therefore will abstain and others will do it, that would have been fine," journalist Glenn Greenwald tweeted. "Instead, they cheered as he heaped praise on his brother and touted him as a future President."
"Chris Cuomo should resign from news and media. Clearly he cannot be trusted and has too many conflicts of interest," one user remarked.
"weird that Chris Cuomo still has a job," another wrote.
