We've often described any story involving the ethically-challenged and recently fired CNN "journalist" Chris Cuomo as "the bottom story of the day". There are so many of those stories today that we've gathered them into this timeline entry....
- CNN Won’t Pay Chris Cuomo Severance; HarperCollins Pulls Former Anchor’s Coming Book
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Chris Cuomo's bad day began with this report. Imagine being fired from your $6 million per year job for cause and not getting severance pay:
Chris Cuomo won’t get severance from CNN and lost a publishing deal for a coming book, the latest fallout from the former CNN anchor’s involvement in helping his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, respond to allegations of sexual harassment.
During a virtual town-hall meeting with employees on Tuesday, CNN President Jeff Zucker said the network won’t pay Mr. Cuomo a severance, according to people familiar with the matter. Mr. Zucker also said he wished Chris Cuomo had taken a leave of absence in May when allegations that he participated in strategy sessions with his brother first surfaced.
Since this excerpt hints at the next headline, let's get to it:
- Chris Cuomo’s book canceled by HarperCollins
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HarperCollins Publishers has dropped plans to release a book by Chris Cuomo amid the controversy that led to his firing by CNN, The Post has learned.
A spokesperson for the company’s Custom House imprint confirmed the decision Tuesday following a report that a listing for the planned hardcover was recently removed from the Amazon website.
“I can confirm that we don’t intend to publish the book,” spokesperson Kelly Rudolph told The Post.
Rudolph declined to elaborate.
But a publishing-industry source said: “This is why contracts have a morals clause. He lost his platform and his credibility.”
The source noted, however, that the canceled book deal “will probably help” Cuomo if he sues CNN over his firing, “since it really cost him materially.”
Cuomo’s planned book, “Deep Denial,” was initially set for release in October but had its publication date pushed back to Jan. 11 and then to Oct. 15, according to the Publishers Marketplace website, which reported on its disappearance from Amazon.
Meanwhile, some additional information suggests Cuomo's announced resignation from his SiriusXM radio gig may not have been his idea:
- Chris Cuomo forced out of SiriusXM after sexual misconduct claim, CNN firing: sources
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Here's an excerpt:
Fired CNN host Chris Cuomo announced Monday that he quit his SiriusXM radio show — with a source saying he was forced out of the side gig after a former female colleague at ABC News accused him of sexual misconduct.
Cuomo “really wanted” to stay on SiriusXM but was told he needed to leave, sources said....
A source familiar with the matter said of Cuomo, “He was asked to resign, which he did.”
Another source said Cuomo — who continued hosting his “Let’s Get After It” radio program after CNN fired him on Tuesday — “really wanted to keep his SiriusXM show.
At what point, if any, will he realize he never earned nor was entitled to any of the privileges he was granted?
Finally, Cuomo's former boss at CNN had some choice things to say about the situation Cuomo created:
- Jeff Zucker tells CNN staff he wishes he'd taken action on Cuomo sooner but he's comfortable with end result
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Keep in mind that the CNN insiders are describing a leadership failure at CNN:
CNN President Jeff Zucker addressed Chris Cuomo’s stunning firing in a town hall with staffers Tuesday, saying he was at peace with the result but may have in hindsight taken action sooner.
According to a CNN insider, Zucker said it was easy to criticize CNN’s handling of the situation, but he was "comfortable" with the end result.
CNN fired Cuomo on Saturday after a brief suspension, following reports that his involvement with his brother Andrew Cuomo’s political defense against sexual harassment allegations was far more extensive than previously known.
"Yes, in hindsight he may have taken action sooner but result he’s comfortable with," an insider told Fox News Digital about Zucker’s words to CNN staff....
A CNN source told Fox News Digital this week that the network had done the right thing with Cuomo and there was "universal relief" over his dismissal inside the company.
"That’s separate from liking Chris or not liking Chris – it’s people feeling that there was a right thing to do, and it was done," the insider said.
Many more heads need to roll at CNN. The news network's problems are much bigger than the outsized ego of its former top-rated performer.
