CNN host Chris Cuomo apologized on air Thursday night for advising his older brother, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, on handling his sexual harassment scandal.
Chris Cuomo, who infamously interviewed the governor about New York’s COVID-19 response throughout the pandemic, emphasized on his primetime program that he never covered his brother’s scandals in Albany.
“Now today there are stories out there about me offering my brother advice,” Cuomo told viewers at the start of his show, “Cuomo Prime Time.”
”Of course I do. This is no revelation. I have said it publicly and I certainly have never hidden it. I can be objective on just about any topic but not about my family.”
He went on to say that those who watch his show “get it.”
“Like you, I bet, my family means everything to me and I’m fiercely loyal to them,” he said.
Cuomo had been in discussions with his brother’s staff, lawyers and others during strategy sessions and advised the governor not to end up another victim of “cancel culture,” the Washington Post reported.
“I’m family first, job second,” Cuomo said on his show during an opening statement that lasted about three minutes.
“But being a journalist and a brother to a politician is unique and a unique challenge and I have a unique responsibility to balance those roles,” he added.
“It’s not always easy, but people can say and write what they want, but I want you to know the truth,” he added.
Cuomo said how he helped his brother mattered.
“When my brother’s situation became turbulent, being looped into calls with other friends of his, and advisers that did include some of his staff, I understand why that was a problem for CNN,” Cuomo said.
“It will not happen again,” he added.
“It was a mistake because I put my colleagues here, who I believe are the best in the business, in a bad spot. I never intended for that, I would never intend for that and I’m sorry for that.”
Cuomo said he has never tried to influence CNN’s coverage of his brother.
“In fact, I’ve been walled off from it,” he said.
“This is a unique and difficult situation and that’s OK,” he went on. “I know where the line is. I can respect it and still be there for my family, which I must. I have to do that. I love my brother, I love my family, I love my job and I love and respect my colleagues here at CNN.”
He concluded by telling his colleagues he was “truly sorry.
“You know who I am, you know what I’m about and I want this to be said in public to you, who give me the opportunity, and to my colleagues who make me better at what I do,” he said.
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