CNN Fires Chris Cuomo “Effective Immediately”

CNN announced late Saturday afternoon the cable network has fired host Chris Cuomo, “effective immediately” following an investigation into Cuomo using his journalism contacts to help defend his brother former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) when he was facing numerous allegations of sexual assault by female staffers. Andrew Cuomo resigned in disgrace last August. CNN had previously suspended Cuomo but said Saturday that “additional information has come to light” in their investigation of Cuomo that apparently prompted his immediate termination.

“Chris Cuomo was suspended earlier this week pending further evaluation of new information that came to light about his involvement with his brother’s defense. We retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him, effective immediately While in the process of that review, additional information has come to light. Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate.”

Statement on Chris Cuomo’s termination from CNN. pic.twitter.com/yKPwYtMznD

— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) December 4, 2021

Background:

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So much detail here on Chris Cuomo guiding his brother’s PR campaignhttps://t.co/XFPA9a2BFb pic.twitter.com/coMhEecrZZ

— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) November 29, 2021

Text messages suggest Chris Cuomo was feeding Melissa DeRosa (Andrew Cuomo’s top aide) info about the timing of Ronan Farrow’s piece on Andrew’s sexual harassment, retaliation.

(There was a period when all of Albany was walking on eggshells, waiting for a Farrow bombshell.) pic.twitter.com/4T1GKCBwDM

— Jon Campbell (@JonCampbellNY) November 29, 2021

What level was Chris Cuomo involved with the response to his brother’s sexual harassment allegations? Texts with DeRosa include him checking on whether another story will break with more allegations, a friend of Chris’s had Alec Baldwin go on a “rant” about cancel culture pic.twitter.com/SR91rhz0xm

— Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) November 29, 2021

UPDATE: New York Post reporter, “Source tell (sic) me the “additional information” that’s come to light mentioned at end of CNN statement are sexual harassment allegations”

Source tell me the “additional information” that’s come to light mentioned at end of CNN statement are sexual harassment allegations https://t.co/n5j2nzXoUB

— Julia Marsh (@juliakmarsh) December 4, 2021

UPDATE: Chris Cuomo statement on firing:

“This is not how I want my time at CNN to end but I have already told you why and how I helped my brother. So let me now say as disappointing as this is, I could not be more proud of the team at Cuomo Prime Time and the work we did as CNN’s #1 show in the most competitive time slot. I owe them all and will miss that group of special people who did really important work.”

“…in the most competitive time slot. I owe them all and will miss that group of special people who did really important work.” (2/2)

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) December 4, 2021