Chris Cuomo Book Pulled by Harper Collins – The New York Times
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Michael M. Grynbaum and
Chris Cuomo has lost his spot on yet another major media platform.
HarperCollins said on Tuesday that it would no longer publish a planned book by Mr. Cuomo, who was fired by CNN over the weekend and on Monday said he would end his daily SiriusXM radio talk show.
The book, which had been scheduled to be released next year, was originally titled “Deep Denial.” It had been described by the publisher as “a provocative analysis of the harsh truths that the pandemic and Trump years have exposed about America — about our strength and our character — and a road map of the work needed to make our ideals match reality.”
“We do not intend to publish the Cuomo book,” a spokeswoman for HarperCollins said on Tuesday.
Mr. Cuomo was fired on Saturday by CNN amid an inquiry into his efforts to aid his brother, former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York, during a sexual harassment scandal. CNN was also notified of an allegation of sexual misconduct against Chris Cuomo, brought by a former junior colleague at another network; he has denied the allegation.
In a virtual meeting with employees on Tuesday, CNN’s president, Jeff Zucker, said that he wished that Mr. Cuomo had taken a leave of absence after his interactions with the governor’s aides were first revealed this year. CNN offered Mr. Cuomo the option to take a leave at the time, but the anchor declined.
Mr. Zucker also said on Tuesday that CNN did not plan to pay severance to Mr. Cuomo or grant any other compensation remaining on his current contract, according to three people who heard his remarks and requested anonymity to describe internal conversations.
Mr. Zucker said he was comfortable with his decision to dismiss Mr. Cuomo, and he asserted that the anchor had crossed ethical lines in his behavior, the people said.
A spokesman for Mr. Cuomo declined to comment on the decision by HarperCollins or on Mr. Zucker’s remarks.
The news outlet Puck reported on Monday evening that Mr. Cuomo had hired Bryan Freedman, a prominent Hollywood lawyer who represented Megyn Kelly when she extracted a roughly $30 million payout after she was fired by NBC News. Mr. Cuomo’s spokesman also declined to comment on Mr. Freedman’s hiring. Mr. Freedman did not immediately respond to an email on Tuesday.
Alexandra Alter contributed reporting.
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