CNN fires host Chris Cuomo after helping brother in sexual harassment scandal – National

CNN introduced Saturday that its hottest anchor Chris Cuomo has been terminated following revelations that he had aided his brother, former New York governor Andrew Cuomo, after he was accused of sexually harassing a number of ladies.

Chris was suspended earlier within the week after new info got here to gentle of his involvement along with his brother’s defence, leaving his future with the information group up within the air.

Now CNN has stated in a press release launched Saturday afternoon that after retaining a “revered regulation agency to conduct the assessment,” Chris has been terminated, efficient instantly.

“Whereas within the means of that assessment, further info has come to gentle,” CNN stated. “Regardless of the termination, we’ll examine as acceptable.”

World Information has contacted CNN for particulars on that further info however didn’t hear again within the time of publication.

CNN chief Jeff Zucker informed Cuomo of the choice Saturday and notified workers in an e-mail.

“It goes with out saying that these selections should not straightforward, and there are lots of complicated components concerned,” Zucker’s e-mail learn.

Chris Cuomo’s program aired weeknights at 9 p.m. EST and averaged 1.3 million viewers, based on Nielson rankings, making him the community’s hottest anchor and outpacing Anderson Cooper.

He joined CNN in 2013 from ABC Information.

2:11
Cuomo thanks New Yorkers for his time in workplace, welcomes incoming Gov. Kathy Hochul

On Twitter, Chris stated that “this isn’t how I need my time at CNN to finish.”

“I’ve already informed you why and the way I helped my brother,” he stated. “As disappointing as that is, I couldn’t be extra pleased with the workforce at Cuomo Prime Time and the work we did as CNN’s #1 present in essentially the most aggressive time slot.”

Andrew Cuomo resigned in August to keep away from a possible impeachment after state Legal professional Basic Letitia James’ workplace discovered that he had sexually harassed not less than 11 ladies.

Whereas Chris Cuomo had beforehand acknowledged giving recommendation to his brother, it was revealed Monday in newly launched paperwork from the lawyer basic that he had pressed sources for extra info on Andrew Cuomo’s accusers and reported again to the governor’s workers, and helped craft responses to costs.

“That is my brother, and I’m making an attempt to assist my brother by a scenario the place he informed me he did nothing fallacious,” Cuomo testified final July to investigators on the lawyer basic’s workplace.

Cuomo additionally admitted to reaching out to different journalists, together with Ronan Farrow of the New Yorker, to see in the event that they have been writing tales about his brother and didn’t inform CNN.

After his brother’s resignation in August, Cuomo stated on CNN that “I by no means made calls to the press about my brother’s scenario.”

He has additionally stated that he has performed nothing to affect CNN’s protection of his brother, though Andrew Cuomo appeared a number of instances on his present throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

After listening to about Cuomo’s consultations along with his brother’s aides earlier this yr, CNN stated it was inappropriate however didn’t administer self-discipline.

The community stated in a press release earlier this week following Cuomo’s suspension that it appreciates “the distinctive place he was in and understood his must put household first and job second.”

Cuomo has been accused of sexual harassment himself by veteran TV govt Shelley Ross, who stated he groped her at a celebration 16 years earlier whereas they each labored at ABC.

In response to the allegation, Cuomo stated: “I apologized to her then, and I meant it.”

— with information from the Related Press