CNN anchor Chris Cuomo issued his first statement after a video showing him threatening a man went viral, prompting criticism from a slew of people that included President Donald Trump.
Cuomo, 49, said he should have been “better” than the man who called him “Fredo” but declined to apologize.
“Appreciate all the support but—truth is I should be better than the guys baiting me. This happens all the time these days. Often in front of my family. But there is a lesson: no need to add to the ugliness; I should be better than what I oppose,” the anchor said in the Aug. 13 statement.
The video showing Cuomo at an event threatening the man went viral late Monday, leading to “Fredo” and “Chris Cuomo” to trend on Twitter.
Cuomo accused the man of using an ethnic slur, saying it was equivalent to someone calling a black person the N-word.
After Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son, wondered if CNN would respond, the company’s chief spokesman said: “Chris Cuomo defended himself when he was verbally attacked with the use of an ethnic slur in an orchestrated setup. We completely support him.”
A number of CNN employees have used “Fredo” in the past, including Ana Navarro and Jake Tapper.
President Trump weighed in earlier Tuesday, writing: “I thought Chris was Fredo also. The truth hurts. Totally lost it! Low ratings @CNN.”
He later added: “Would Chris Cuomo be given a Red Flag for his recent rant? Filthy language and a total loss of control. He shouldn’t be allowed to have any weapon. He’s nuts!”
Cuomo is known for his combative interview style and long monologues. In the past, he’s praised the far-left Antifa group and called the term “fake news” the “N-word for journalists.”
Among those defending the CNN anchor was Fox’s Sean Hannity, who wrote: “I say good for @ChrisCuomo He’s out with his 9 year old daughter, and his wife, and this guy is being a jackass in front of his family.”
“[In my humble opinion] Chris Cuomo has zero to apologize for. He deserves the apology,” he added.
Added Matt Walsh of the Daily Wire: “Heckling a public figure and secretly recording their reaction is a punk move. Conservatives applauding it in this case are hypocrites. Good for Cuomo, treating the guy exactly as he deserved to be treated.”
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