Guess who’s back.
Less than a year later fired by CNN, Chris Cuomo will be back at prime time cable news. The CNN host will previously join NewsNation as a primetime host, multiple sources familiar with the matter have confirmed to The Daily Beast, bringing in the self-described “agent” freedom” a new platform for “get after it“And give the fledgling network a big name to potentially boost its confusing ratings.
The news was confirmed with an online announcement in Cuomo’s Tuesday night sat down with his friend and former ABC News colleague NewsNation host Dan Abrams. Their conversation marked the disgraced former media heavyweight’s first television appearance since he was fired by CNN in December.
“I think we need the media to rebel,” Cuomo said while announcing his new role. “I will go where the news is and I will try very hard to be fair, and I want to do it here. I want to make a difference and I really hope that makes a difference for you. And I thank NewsNation so much for the opportunity. “
A potential deal at work between Cuomo and NewsNation was reported earlier this month by OutKick. Citing anonymous sources, the conservative sports website reported that NewsNation President Michael Corn is leading the effort to get Cuomo on board despite the former CNN host The lawsuit is ongoing with his former owner. Cuomo was fired after a report revealed that he relies on his media friends unearthed women who had accused his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, of sexual harassment.
Corn was appointed to the top position at NewsNation in May 2021. During his tenure as ABC Good Morning America, he was charged with sexual assault and nurtured the toxic work environment of two former female employees. The case was dismissed by a New York judge last month, just over a year after he was appointed to NewsNation.
Cuomo, meanwhile, began his media comeback late last month, revealing in an Instagram post in late June that he had traveled to Ukraine to report from the eastern front about the invasion. happening in Russia. “In Ukraine. We can’t forget,” he wrote, tagging his post with a hashtag, ” #letsgetafterit.” Several other posts made from the Ukrainian border were tracked, but he soon turned around. back to the state.
From the Hamptons, Cuomo later teased the rebranding as a “freelance agent”, hawking clear black and white goods for that effect and post pictures of him smoking a cigar or flexing his muscles. On July 8, Cuomo put on Instagram to tease: “Something’s coming… Summer 22.”
While settling his ongoing $125 million lawsuit against CNN, Cuomo also sought to become a volunteer position with the East Hampton Fire Department. The Daily Beast’s Talk news last week’s reporthowever, the anchorman’s application was removed after he was notified of the required time commitment.
From there, Cuomo moved on to reveal Project Chris Cuomo, a semi-weekly podcast that launched last week. In his first episode, Cuomo tries to be nice to his former employer – despite a $125 million lawsuit – and emphasizes that he is now a “real” and “authentic” Cuomo. than.
“These words are my own,” he declared. “They didn’t get the massage to keep the message going; no one told me to continue a story even when i thought it was running to the ground. No one will encourage the burning of fires that I believe will be extinguished. I finished that game, and it’s a game. “
Cuomo can be seen as NewsNation’s latest attempt to promote its poor ratingswith the network’s primetime shows typically attracting less than 10,000 viewers on average in the primary ad demographic of viewers aged 25 to 54. (For comparison, Cuomo’s former owner often raked in six figures in prime hour demo viewer value.) Cuomo consistently ranked as CNN’s top star even as he trails competitors like MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow and Fox News host Sean Hannity.
Elsewhere in a NewsNation conversation on Tuesday night, Cuomo repeatedly defended the actions that led to his firing by CNN, telling Abrams that his phone calls with fellow journalists were pointless. penaltyless reward.
“Truth is in language,” he declared. “I was able to get in touch with anyone who was working in the media, had a lot of connections. And I could probably have justified that by just saying ‘I just want to make sure you’re upfront with the truth. I don’t want to affect you. ‘ I never did that. And I think that’s the difference with the difference and that’s what we’re going to find out in litigation. “
Cuomo finally talks about his former colleagues Jake Tapper and Don Lemon (once his close friends), both of whom are said to have criticized his misconduct during CNN meetings. after he was overthrown and both were moved to trash by Cuomo in his bitter lawsuit. “I can’t blame people for acting on what they were asked to do,” he said. “Should they call me? Of course, but I also understand the situation. And I understand why they might not feel that is an option. But these are good people. They take the job seriously. I will not judge them for what they say about me based on what they know and do not know. I wish them well, and it is true.”
He also completely denied the sexual assault allegations against him published year The New York Times. “None of this happened,” he told Abrams. “I worry about creating attention for stories. I’m concerned about being distracted from what’s supposed to be important to people. “
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