CNN host Brian Stelter has admitted the 'optics' of banning Chris Cuomo from talking about sex pest claims made against his brother are a 'problem' and says Chris's show could be canceled if viewers turn off over the scandal.
Speaking in a six minute monologue Sunday, Stelter confirmed that Chris has been banned from discussing his brother on his nightly Prime Time show, and that CNN staff were divided at over the scandal, which saw Chris advise Andrew on how to response to claims made against him by 11 women. That number has now jumped to 13.
'Management has been clear about its position: he is not covering the governor on TV, period,' Stelter said. 'He is not talking about it at all.'
Stelter also defended the decision not to suspend Chris - who he insisted is taking a long-planned vacation from Monday, in a bid to shoot down rumors that his colleague has been 'canceled' when he disappears from screens.
CNN host Brian Stelter confirmed that Chris Cuomo has been banned from discussing his brother, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on television after he was accused last week of sexually harassing 11 women by the Attorney General for New York
'Some critics say he should have been suspended or even fired. But I'm going to level with you. Telling a well off host to hang out by the pool for a couple of weeks is not a real punishment,' he explained. 'It's BS when Fox sends a host off on vacation during a scandal. Scolding a host in public, saying what they did was inappropriate. That is an actual punishment.'
As Stelter spoke, a grab of a Hollywood Reporter story branding Chris's strategizing on behalf of his brother as 'inappropriate' appeared on screen.
Stelter interviewed several of his colleagues, under the condition of anonymity, who said the 'lines are just too blurred' regarding Chris and the situation.
Last year, Andrew Cuomo regularly appeared on Chris's show, where he was lavished with praise over New York's handling of the COVID crisis.
His silence on the sex pest scandal - which reached boiling point after New York's Attorney General said it believed the governor's 11 accusers last week - has further fueled allegations of hypocrisy.
'Again, I think Chris should be asked about all of this, he should be grilled like anyone else. That’s what numerous staffers at CNN said to me this week,' Stelter shared.
According to Stelter, anything Chris would say about the scandal would be 'picked apart' by viewers.
'He will be accused of either using his platform to spin for his family, or accused of betraying his brother,' said Stelter. 'This has been a conundrum for CNN, it has no perfect answer.'
Stelter - whose monologue was likely signed-off by CNN's top bosses before broadcast - added that he did not think not mentioning the Cuomo scandal for one hour each night was an issue, and said the network was reporting on the story in an 'extra tough' way on its other shows to avoid further allegations of favoritism.
Chris is also not allowed to participate in anymore strategy sessions with the governor's aides
In one interview, Chris reportedly told Andrew he was 'the best politician in the country'.
MSNBC's Laura Bassett called Chris out in a recent op-ed saying: 'Both brothers need to go. It's extremely inappropriate and unethical for a journalist to advise and craft the statements of a politician, regardless of family relation.
'New Yorkers deserve better than a lying, harassing, misogynistic creep presiding over the state. And CNN's viewers deserve better than a news anchor who is working on behalf of a politician he covers and helps to manipulate public opinion of him.'
Bassett accused both Cuomo brothers of having 'amassed massive power and influence, while betraying public trust'.
Chris Cuomo (right) was previously branded a hypocrite after he repeatedly had Andrew (left) on his show at the height of the COVID crisis, when the governor's handling of the crisis was initially praised
Last week New York Attorney General Letitia James released a report accusing Andrew Cuomo of sexually harassing 11 women. Nine of the accusers are either current of former state employees.
Two more women approached the New York state Attorney General's Office on Monday reporting allegations of sexual harassment against the governor.
Andrew has not been seen in public since James' report was released last Tuesday.
The governor released a pre-recorded video statement where he denied having ever 'touched anyone inappropriately' suggesting James' investigation had been politically motivated.
On Sunday, it was reported that Cuomo and his aides had been trying to cut a deal with his party whereby he would not run for a fourth term as governor next week, in return for avoiding an impeachment trial. Those talks appear to have foundered, with the governor's top aide Melissa DeRosa announcing her resignation Sunday.
The New York State Assembly's Judiciary Committee Charles Lavine said on Monday that the committee would hold two executive sessions to discuss its ongoing impeachment inquiry of Cuomo on August 16 and August 23, followed by at least two public hearings, where experts will be called to testify on sexual assault and harassment and the impeachment process itself.
Andrew Cuomo (pictured) has denied having ever 'touched anyone inappropriately' and suggested the AG's investigation was politically motivated
No comments:
Post a Comment