CNN supports Chris Cuomo after his verbal tirade with man who calls him ‘Fredo’
Originally posted Tuesday, August 13, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
In a video at a New York bar released Monday, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo took offense at an unidentified heckler who called him 'Fredo,' likening it as an Italian slur similar to the N-word for black people.
Cuomo told the man “Fredo” is a reference to a character Fredo Corleone in the 1972 film "The Godfather," considered "a weak brother."
The anchor’s heated exchange turned into a mass of cursing and a challenge to fight:
"I’ll (expletive) ruin your (expletive). I’ll (expletive) throw you down these stairs like a (expletive) punk … you’re gonna call me Fredo, take a (expletive) swing?"
The man did not take on the challenge. The video was sent to a right-wing YouTube channel host, who posted it.
While Donald Trump supported the heckler in a Tweet, his buddy and Fox News host Sean Hannity was Team Cuomo, was his employer CNN, who released this statement:
“Chris Cuomo defended himself when he was verbally attacked with the use of an ethnic slur in an orchestrated setup. We completely support him.”
About the Author
Rodney Ho writes about entertainment for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution including TV, radio, film, comedy and all things in between. A native New Yorker, he has covered education at The Virginian-Pilot, small business for The Wall Street Journal and a host of beats at the AJC over 20-plus years. He loves tennis, pop culture & seeing live events.
