THIS is the awkward moment a CNN guest calls out the network over Chris Cuomo's "love-a-thon" interviews with his brother Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
Speaking to "Reliable Sources" host Brian Stelter on Sunday morning, Erik Wemple said the lack of coverage for the governor's scandals was a "major black eye for CNN".
“I would be remiss if I didn’t mention CNN’s own huge media story here,” The Washington Post's media critic said.
“Chris Cuomo, the anchor at the 9 o’clock hour, who covered Andrew Cuomo and had all these wonderful love-a-thon interviews with him — more than 10 of them.”
“They suspended the conflict-of-interest rule for Chris Cuomo for those interviews,” Wemple continued.
“Yet all of a sudden they’ve enforced it again now that Andrew Cuomo was in the midst of a historic scandal in the Albany statehouse.”
“I think that is a major black eye for CNN,” he concluded — before Stelter moved on the interview.
In recent weeks seven women have come forward accusing Gov. Cuomo of inappropriate behavior which he has strongly denied.
He is also facing several inquiries over the handling of coronavirus patients in nursing homes and the possible cover-up of the death toll.
CNN said in February that it had reinstated its "rule" that prevents Chris from interviewing or covering news relating to his brother.
The siblings regularly bantered on air last year, discussing the New York Gov's handling of the pandemic and the lack of action from the Trump administration, despite an evident conflict of interest.
Last month, it was reported that the governor made more than 10 appearances in his brother's show "Cuomo Prime Time."
Chris opened his 9pm show on March 1 by immediately addressing the claims against his brother and saying he cares "profoundly" about the issues brought up by the women.
“Obviously I am aware of what’s going on with my brother,” the anchor said on his show.
“And obviously I cannot cover it, because he is my brother.”
“Now, of course CNN has to cover it,” the host continued.
“They have covered it extensively and they will continue to do so.”
The 50-year-old was previously banned from covering stories on Andrew by the network when he joined in 2013.
It comes after five of America's major broadcasting networks – ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and MSNBC – refrained from mentioning the sexual harassment allegations against Andrew Cuomo.
In a previous interview between the two brothers, the governor boasted "I am The Love Gov," on Chris' primetime CNN show just months before he allegedly sexually harassed a female aide.
"I've seen you referred to a little bit recently as the 'Love Gov' and I'm wondering if that's bleeding into your demeanor at all and making you a little soft on the President," the CNN anchor queried.
"I've always been a soft guy," The Governor responded, sporting a creepy grin.
"I am the Love Gov. I'm a cool dude in a loose mood. You know that. I just say let it go. Just go with the flow baby."
"That's the first time you've said any of those things," Chris replied. "I've known you my whole life."
They also joked Andrew was "single and ready to mingle" during another controversial interview in June.
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