176 days after publicly embracing his "Love Gov" nickname, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo resigned from office in the wake of
multiple sexual harassment allegations -- which he denies.
The Quote:
"I've always been a soft guy. I am a love gov. I'm a cool dude in a loose mood."
Context:
Cuomo was joking when he made the remark during a press briefing in April 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. His daily briefings had earned the governor unexpected status as a "heartthrob" and his younger brother, CNN anchor, Chris Cuomo, goaded him into the tongue-in-cheek response.
"I’ve seen you referred to a little bit recently as the ‘Love Gov,’" Chris Cuomo teased. "I’m wondering if that’s bleeding into your demeanor at all and making you a little soft...?"
Governor Cuomo, who's known for his heavy-handed approach to governance, played along. "I've always been a soft guy," he said. "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."
The light-hearted exchange was typical of Cuomo's COVID-19 briefings, which often tempered somber updates with moments of levity.
Early in the pandemic, Cuomo's ability to inject humor and humanity into COVID-19 discussions had made him a prominent national figure, sparking praise and media coverage that snowballed into a cultural phenomenon.
At the height of his popularity, admirers across the country dubbed themselves "Cuonosexuals." There were swooning women, social media fan clubs, funny memes and posters, Cuomosexual t-shirts, mugs and underwear -- and embarrassing pet names such as "Love Gov."
Until there weren't.
The first allegation of sexual harassment came just prior to the "Love Gov" interview.
And they just kept coming.
By the time he resigned on August 23, 2021, 11 women had accused Cuomo of non-consensual sexual contact, ogling, gender-based nicknames and creating a sexually hostile work environment. In Jan 2024, the DOJ settled 13 sexual harassment claims against Cuomo.
Ultimately, charges were dropped. Court cases were thrown out. And to this day, former New York Governor Andrew Cuoono still adamantly maintains his innocence.
Who Said It?
The son of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo. Andrew Cuomo is a politician, lawyer and author who served as the 56th governor of New York from January 1, 2011, to August 23, 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, Cuomo previously served as U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 2001 and as Attorney General of New York from 2007 to 2010.
While Cuomo gained national attention for his leadership during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration also faced criticism for its handling of nursing home data and allegations of a hostile workplace environment and sexual harassment. Despite the controversies, Cuomo's political career is often remembered for his emphasis on modernizing New York’s infrastructure, including the completion of the Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, named in honor of his father.
Watch the Video
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Cuomo
- https://www.vogue.com/article/andrew-cuomo-why-we-love-him-now-coronavirus
- https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/26/politics/doj-cuomo-sexual-harassment-new-york/index.html
- https://www.foxnews.com/media/left-wing-media-chris-cuomo-love-gov-andrew-cuomo
- https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/judge-dismisses-criminal-charge-against-andrew-cuomo
- https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/cuomo-says-he-will-not-resign-denies-sexual-harassment-allegations-n1275837
- https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-secures-settlement-agreement-state-new-york-executive-chamber-resolve
- https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ny-gov-cuomo-love-gov-cnn
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