Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo has recently offered unsparing accounts of the personal and professional upheaval following his termination from the network in late 2021.
Speaking in interviews on two separate podcasts, Cuomo detailed the emotional and psychological impact of his ousting, while also addressing the legal challenge he has mounted against his former employer and reflecting on his current work in a changed media landscape.
Cuomo was dismissed by CNN in December 2021. This decision came after information emerged indicating he had assisted his brother, Andrew Cuomo, who was then the governor of New York, in navigating an array of public accusations of sexual misconduct that ultimately led to the governor’s resignation.
The circumstances of his departure became the basis for a $125 million lawsuit Cuomo filed against CNN in 2022.
The suit alleges that CNN engaged in a “smear campaign” against him. It further claims this campaign effectively blacklisted him from securing similar news anchor positions elsewhere.
Cuomo’s legal representation has also publicly asserted that network executives were not only aware of his activities but may have been involved themselves.
Bryan Freedman, an attorney for Cuomo, stated to NBC News that it should be obvious to everyone that his client “did not lie to CNN” about his involvement in assisting his brother.
Freedman contended that the “limited information released from WarnerMedia’s investigation” shows that “CNN’s highest-level executives not only knew about Chris’s involvement in helping his brother but also actively assisted the Governor, both through Chris and directly themselves.”
In recent public comments, Cuomo has elaborated on the profound personal effects of the experience.
Appearing on the “No BS Newshour” podcast last week, Cuomo shared that he was “emotionally and psychologically beat up and changed by what I went through.”
He linked this personal transformation directly to his current professional output, explaining that his show is “different because I am different.”
During the interview, he also addressed a key point of contention surrounding his firing, asserting that he “never did anything to manipulate media coverage of my brother.”
Cuomo also used the podcast appearance to reflect on his future ambitions and expectations in the media industry.
He stated an acceptance that he likely would not achieve the level of traditional media prominence he once held, noting, “I’ll never be number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 on some bulls–t media power list.” He added, “I’m okay with that.”
Interestingly, despite the contentious nature of his departure and the ongoing legal battle, Cuomo still expressed a high regard for his former network.
He told the “No BS Newshour” podcast hosts that he views CNN as the “best news organization in the world.”
Further detailing the personal toll, Cuomo shared particularly stark sentiments on an episode of Anthony Scaramucci’s Spotify podcast, “Open Book With Anthony Scaramucci,” which aired recently.
He admitted to experiencing intense distress immediately following his termination, stating that he “had to accept [my firing] because I was going to kill everybody including myself.”
Cuomo, who is of Italian heritage, connected the intensity of his feelings to his background, adding that “things can consume you. Italians are so passionate.”
He spoke of the lasting impact, noting, “There is damage that is relatable, there is damage that is unrelatable to people that I have to deal with, that I am working on.”
Reflecting on the loss of his position and prominence at CNN, Cuomo reiterated the belief that his professional standing was unjustly taken from him.
“I’ll never be that again,” he said on Scaramucci’s podcast. “That was taken from me, I believe wrongly.”
