Jeff Zucker’s Big Mistake: Ousted CNN Boss Blamed Chris Cuomo Firing On Pre-Dated Sexual Misconduct Claim, Triggering His Own Downfall
If only he’d been more strategic.
Jeff Zucker was forced out as president of CNN because “he had the gall” to fire Chris Cuomo over an unsubstantiated claim that he sexually harassed a former colleague at ABC News, RadarOnline.com has learned.
“Everyone knew the hypocrisy — and it riled feathers,” a source said. “If Jeff had taken the stance that Chris was fired for lying to the network, he probably would still have his job.”
When CNN fired its prime-time star Cuomo on Dec. 4, 2021, the network cited a prominent Washington, D.C., workplace attorney who came forward to share information of an unnamed woman.
"My client came forward at this time because she felt in sharing her story and related documentation, she could help protect other women," Debra Katz said in a statement after Cuomo was fired.
At the time, Cuomo was under intense scrutiny after it emerged he’d lied when he insisted he “never made calls to the press about [his] brother’s situation.” His brother is the former New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo.
Andrew was forced to resign in disgrace over sexual harassment allegations.
Chris Cuomo's suspension comes after it was revealed Andrew Cuomo’s top advisor, Melissa DeRosa, sent the CNN anchor an email at the height of the scandal, saying: “Rumor going around from Politico. One to two more people coming out tomorrow...Can you check your sources?"
"On it," Chris Cuomo replied, according to transcripts from The New York Attorney General’s office.
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But, remember, prior to the email, Chris Cuomo said in August 2021 that he “never made calls to the press about [his] brother’s situation."
“The irony is that Jeff and Allison [Gollust] choose the wrong lede — and it resulted in their demise, or at least Jeff’s (as CNN president),” a source told RadarOnline.com.
“If they had fired a newscaster for lying, it would have been justifiable. It was all the needed: how could anyone trust the news being to delivered to them was factual, if the person delivering it, had proven to have told a big whopper?”
The source added, “But to cite sexual misconduct in the workplace, well, while brazen and bold, it opened the door to charges of he and Allison being hypocrites.
“Jeff’s own decision and words fueled the moves against him behind-the-scenes.”