Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo is asking the network for $125 million, accusing them of ruining his reputation and violating his contract by allowing colleagues to publicly criticize him.
The former Cuomo Prime Time host was fired in December after it was revealed he was counseling his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, after the state’s attorney general found he had sexually molested 11 different women.
Cuomo is now seeking $110 million in damages and $15 million allegedly owed to him under his contract, according to an arbitration filed Wednesday obtained by Deadline.
“Countless damage has been done to Cuomo as a result of Turner’s unjustified decision to unceremoniously fire him,” the statement said.
“Cuomo’s journalistic integrity has been unduly tarnished, making it difficult, if not impossible, for Cuomo to find a similar job in the future and has cost him more than $125 million in damages, including not only remaining wages due under the Agreement, but future lost wages. as a result of CNN’s efforts to destroy his reputation for violating the Agreement.”
Cuomo’s firing set off a series of upheavals at CNN. Network president Jeff Zucker resigned last month amid an investigation into his relationship with vice president Allison Gollust, who also resigned.
Zucker recently completed a deal for a $10 million exit package, according to Deadline. Hollast was paid $1 million.
Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo is asking the network for $125 million, accusing them of ruining his reputation and violating his contract by allowing colleagues to publicly criticize him.
Cuomo said former CNN president Jeff Zucker (left) was aware of his relationship with former governor Andrew Cuomo and coached the former governor in his daily press conferences.
Cuomo is represented by Freedman + Taitelman LLP and Clayman Rosenberg Kirshner & Linder LLP. CNN America Inc and Turner Services Inc are represented by attorney Daniel Petrocelli, Deadline reports.
Private arbitration is contractually binding, but Cuomo or CNN could eventually go to court to make all documents public.
The lawsuit, filed on Wednesday against CNN, alleges that Zucker was aware of Cuomo’s closeness to his brother and that he himself maintained friendly relations with the former governor.
It also alleges that the network did not do enough to stop Cuomo’s colleagues from publicly criticizing him in violation of his contract.
“An additional and equally significant legally indefensible violation of the Agreement was Zucker’s total failure to comply with the terms of the Agreement when he failed to instruct CNN staff not to humiliate Cuomo,” the statement said.
“The agreement requires CNN to “make reasonable efforts to instruct its employees not to make any deliberately disparaging comments regarding [Cuomo] in the context [Cuomo’s] business and professional activities.
“In fact, not only did Zucker and CNN fail to instruct CNN staff not to humiliate Cuomo as required by the Accord, they themselves openly humiliated Cuomo in violation of the Accord, with Zucker leading the charge.
Zucker reportedly accepted a $10 million payment in exchange for giving up any future rights or intent to litigate CNN. He resigned last month after it was revealed he was in a relationship with a female company executive.
“Before Cuomo was fired, Zucker initially claimed he was unaware of Cuomo’s discussions with Governor Cuomo’s aides when Zucker himself did the same.
“After Cuomo was fired, Zucker claimed that Cuomo had broken his word and that Cuomo misrepresented the extent of his support for his brother. Other CNN employees have joined in a calculated campaign to vilify and destroy Cuomo.”
At a private meeting in D.C. last month following Zucker’s resignation, Cuomo’s former colleagues made it clear that there was still love between them and the former host.
Host Jake Tupper cited the theory that Cuomo leaked information about Zucker’s relationship with the executive in order to get a better exit package.
CNN anchor Jake Tupper (left) criticized WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar (right) at a meeting last month over the firing of network president Jeff Zucker. Tupper demanded that Kilar eliminate the “perception” that Zucker had lost his job by refusing to pay “terrorist” Chris Cuomo.
An outside observer might say, “Well, looks like Chris Cuomo has been successful. He threatened. Jeff said, “We don’t negotiate with terrorists,” and Chris blew the place up.” How to get rid of the feeling that the bad guy wins? he said.
“I think the problem is that it’s not perception. What Jake just described actually happened here,” repeated White House Chief Correspondent Caitlan Collins.
Chief White House Correspondent Caitlan Collins echoed Tupper’s claims, saying, “I think the problem is that it’s not perception. What Jake just described actually happened here.
“Chris Cuomo is a man who is despised because he was fired for being held accountable for his actions and Jeff is part of the result of that. It looks like you haven’t consulted with other executives about the removal of an important part of the company, which I think is a disappointment.”
On air last month, an emotional Don Lemon praised Zucker following his resignation.
“The truth is, we are all heartbroken because we have lost our leader here, we have lost the man who was the foundation, the glue and the spirit of his company,” Lemon said, his eyes filling with tears.
“The person I personally credit for changing my life, the person who believed in me when no one else did. He’s the reason you have a black gay 2 hour primetime show with my name on it. The only prime time cable anchor of color, think about it. Want to talk about diversity? Here.’
Don Lemon started his show last month with a “personal message” after a “very hard day” for him days after his former boss Jeff Zucker resigned.
Lemon, who was seen in a photo of Zucker and his sweetheart Allison Gollust at a Billy Joel concert that helped reveal their relationship, praised the man he trusted with his career.
Lemon said a dark goodbye live to his former boss, who gave him a $4 million annual salary to host Don Lemon Tonight.
What Lemon didn’t reveal was a photo of Zucker and his lover Gollust at a Billy Joel concert that helped reveal their relationship and which features him prominently in the row behind the couple.
Instead, viewers saw a passionate on-air farewell and defense of a man who gave him a $4 million annual salary to host his own show.
Zucker and Gollust, an executive with whom he had a relationship, were reported to have lobbied Andrew Cuomo to appear on their network during the pandemic, violating company policy and questioning their own condemnation of Chris Cuomo’s actions.
The couple contacted the then New York governor directly to try to convince him to appear on his brother Chris Cuomo’s show during the pandemic despite brotherly interviews breaking journalistic protocols.
When Cuomo’s team refused, they approached directly.