Will Andrew Cuomo get to keep his Emmy?
WASHINGTON (SBG) - Embattled New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is facing calls for his resignation and investigations into his conduct amid allegations of sexual harassment. The governor is also embroiled in controversy over allegations that he and his administration concealed data on the deaths of nursing home residents in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cuomo stands accused of harassing Charlotte Bennett, 25, Lindsey Boylan, 36, and Anna Ruch, 33, over several years starting in 2016. The governor is facing new trouble this week as Bennett detailed alleged incidents with Cuomo in which he made her feel “terrified” and that he was trying to begin a sexual relationship with her.
Reporting from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times published Thursday showed that members of Cuomo’s COVID-19 task force ordered the New York health department to change reports of nursing home deaths to show only those who died in nursing homes, not residents who later died in the hospital. Cuomo was blamed for forcing residents sick with COVID-19 back into nursing homes with an executive order. The governor says that the order stipulated that nursing homes should not take patients they could not care for safely, but many nursing homes say they did not think they had a choice.
Investigations into both matters are ongoing, including a probe by the state Attorney General into the allegations of sexual harassment. The FBI and US Attorney are reportedly investigating the accusations of nursing home data concealment. In response to the controversies, the New York State legislature passed a bill that would limit Cuomo’s emergency powers.
Cuomo also faces accusations of bullying from legislators, staff, and members of the media who claim to have received phone calls from Cuomo’s office or the governor himself threatening their careers.
But even as Cuomo’s political career hangs in the balance, other accolades could also be at risk. Cuomo was awarded the International Emmy Founders Award in November for global recognition of his COVID-19 briefings.
“The Governor’s 111 daily briefings worked so well because he effectively created television shows, with characters, plot lines, and stories of success and failure,” International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences President & CEO, Bruce L. Paisner said. “People around the world tuned in to find out what was going on, and New York tough became a symbol of the determination to fight back.”
But as the governor’s reputation begins to crumble and his COVID-19 response is accused of including manipulating data to conceal tragic deaths, some are calling for Cuomo to be stripped of the entertainment honor. Democratic New York City Councilman Robert Holden said that accusations against the embattled governor should show the Emmy organization he no longer deserves the honor.
“We now know that his TV appearances and clout were used to mislead the public regarding how their loved ones died,” Holden wrote in a letter to the Academy. “Please rescind the Governor’s award immediately, as his actions have been an insult to every New Yorker who lost a loved one during this terrible pandemic.”
Losing the Founders Award amid controversy is not without precedent. Actor Kevin Spacey was stripped of the honor in 2017 after being accused of trying to seduce actor Anthony Rapp. The allegation dated back 30 years, when Rapp was a minor. Spacey denied remembering the event but expressed that he was “beyond horrified” to hear the details.
The Academy said that “in light of recent events,” they would not be giving Spacey the award as they had announced, weeks before the International Emmy ceremony.
Disgraced comedian, actor, and convicted sex offender Bill Cosby has not had his multiple Emmy awards rescinded, but the Academy did remove his name from its website.
The Academy has not responded to a request for comment by Sinclair on whether Gov. Cuomo faces the possibility of losing his Emmy.
