Disgraced media personality Chris Cuomo has been accused of harassment. A former colleague at CNN claimed that Mr. Cuomo sent explicit text messages.
Progressive political commentator Angela Rye recently came forward with accusations that Cuomo harassed her.Lai made allegations against Cuomo on the first episode of her new show podcast “Native Land Pod”. The harassment allegations occurred three years ago.
Mr. Lai accused Mr. Cuomo of making inappropriate statements. photograph A photo of herself wearing a gold sequined bikini posted on Instagram on January 1, 2021.
“My story is one I never thought I would tell, and frankly, it's at the intersection of power and harassment,” Lai said. said.
“It all started on New Year's Day when I posted a photo of myself on Instagram wearing a gold sequined bikini and looking forward to the new year. Cuomo screenshotted the image and wrote, 'Happy New Year. There you have it, tinsel crotch,''' Lai said. Suspect. “I was stunned and reread the message dozens of times trying to understand. Anything I post on social is fair game, so what if somehow I brought this on myself? I burst into tears. ..I felt like the safest place I had was CNN's programming was being violated.”
Lai said Cuomo did not respond to her emails for two days, saying he would “talk about work.”
A week after she allegedly received a text message from Cuomo, Lai asked her former CNN colleague if she was still willing to discuss work, “despite mentioning a shoddy bikini and shoddy bottoms along the way.” Told.
“Just 10 days before he got that call on January 21st, the station's darling, one of the most influential hosts during Jeff Zucker's tenure, had an idea for a segment on his prime-time show. “he texted me about it,” the former CNN contributor explained. . “Chris Cuomo suddenly got excited about me having the important regular role of checking in on the left side. To be honest, I had my doubts about the nature of the idea… I came up with the idea for this particular segment after that disastrous outcome.”
“When I think about this, it seems so small compared to what other women in the workplace are going through, but I was afraid to speak up,” Lai said with tears in her eyes. He continued with a smile on his face. “Between the new year and my follow-up, there was a riot at the Capitol and I was worried that I was going to lose loved ones. If I called him out, I'd finally start building in my network. It felt like I was risking everything.”
“I'm mad at myself for not addressing this sooner. I'm mad at myself for protecting your image with the black women I know who love you and look forward to hearing your voice.” I stood up,” Rai added. “I know I'm not the only one, and that everyone gave you a pass for fear of what it would mean to be held accountable for clearly inappropriate behavior and overreach.” “I was angry at myself for shrinking in the face of authority when people were counting on me to stand up and speak out. This was even more difficult for me because I was legitimately sober. We had a great relationship, but I was worried it would damage our friendship and our work. “You actually hurt me.'' relationship. I have tried many times to turn you around, but you have abused your undeserved blessings. ”
“So I apologize. I apologize for not focusing on what I knew was my calling, for shrinking from authority, for not doing more. I apologize to all those who needed a voice. “I apologize to the women. I was silent,” she said. “I apologize for waiting on my sleeve for an opportunity that never came, at the expense of Angela, an injured sixth grader who desperately needed protection in the face of bullies. How to have courage I apologize for not being able to take action despite knowing this.”
“I apologize to those who have experienced something like this in newsrooms, on Capitol Hill, in executive support staff roles, and in university auditoriums. I see you, so I know you are not alone. And I apologize for any disrespect I may have caused.'' The effect this had on me was that I was writhing in shame and blame, even though I wasn't ready to admit or talk about it for what it was.'' “I was doing it,” Lai said.
Lai addressed Cuomo, saying, “So no, Chris, I have no intention of appearing as a guest on your show now or ever again. Thank you for giving me the platform. Mentally and emotionally. It wasn't worth the mess. I thank God I was a part of it.” The fact is clear that you cannot take away the voice you never created, either for yourself or for the network executives who made it possible for you. ”
Lai said she received a call that her contract with CNN would not be renewed on January 21, 2021.
“Right after January 6th, and right after the historic election that won the first black vice president, who is a woman and a friend of mine, CNN focused more on reporting on the coronavirus than on politics,” Lai said. I learned that “Deaf”.
“I knew that was a lie, but it was confirmed when two black women were immediately hired for half of the current donation,” Lai said.
Rye made the comments on the debut episode of “Native Land Pod,” along with co-hosts former MSNBC host Tiffany Cross and scandal-plagued former Democratic Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum.
Representatives for Mr. Cuomo did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News, and CNN declined to comment on the former employee's harassment allegations.
Mr. Cuomo was fired from CNN in December 2021.
Mr. Cuomo has previously been accused of sexual misconduct by former colleagues.
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