Chris Cuomo faces backlash for saying he’s ‘Black on the inside’ in conversation with Don Lemon
Chris Cuomo (L) and Don Lemon on CNN Tonight. (Screen capture via Twitter/CNN)
Chris Cuomo is facing criticism after telling Don Lemon that he’s “Black on the inside”.
The Cuomo family name faced further backlash Friday (5 March) when Chris Cuomo was condemned for his remarks.
Chris, the 50-year-old news anchor and brother to embattled New York governor Andrew Cuomo, was blasted for a comment made during a handoff with colleague Don Lemon.
After Chris began singing the theme song to 1970s television classic Good Times, the CBS sitcom about a Black family living in Chicago, Lemon asked: “‘How do you know all the words to Good Times?”
“You know I’m Black on the inside,” Chris responded. Lemon sidestepped the comment.
CNN offered its own rendition of the Good Times theme song.@DonLemon: "How do you know the words to Good Times?"@ChrisCuomo: "You know I'm black on the inside." pic.twitter.com/Uc3NvOOIrN
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 7, 2021
Chris Cuomo saying he is ‘Black on the inside’ is ‘ f***ing offensive’, says Twitter
While some defended Chris Cuomo’s comment as “a joke”, they immediately became a lightning rod for criticism.
CNN’s Cuomo just said he’s “Black on the inside.” pic.twitter.com/EumZpa7zpn— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) March 6, 2021
Many Twitter users slammed Chris, who once said calling an Italian-American “Fredo” was on par with using the N-word.
“It’s f***ing offensive,” tweeted Sister2Sister managing editor Aisha Staggers. “Black isn’t something you can just say you feel you are inside without having to deal with the racism that comes with being physically Black on the outside.
“This is cultural appropriation.”
It's fucking offensive. Black isn't something you can just say you feel you are inside without having to deal with the racism that comes with being physically Black on the outside. This is cultural appropriation.— Aisha Khalilah Staggers (@AishaStaggers) March 6, 2021
“Black is not a costume,” she added.
“I don’t get to be white when I don’t feel like not dealing with racism or racist police or just regular bulls**t Black people deal with.
“I can’t even hide at home because I can be killed there in my bed, so understand, there was nothing silly about this.”
Black is not a costume, I don’t get to be white when I don’t feel like not dealing with racism or racist police or just regular bullshit Black people deal with. I can’t even hide at home because I can be killed there in my bed, so understand, there was nothing silly about this.
— Aisha K. Staggers (@AishaStaggers) March 6, 2021
It was suggested that CNN ought to “have some sensitivity training” with its on-air personalities.
Chris Cuomo just said to Don Lemon OUT LOUD on Wolf Blitzer’s CNN, “You know I’m Black on the inside,” and we had to turn off the television because I’m not here for that nonsense. @CNN needs to have some sensitivity training with their on-air personalities.
— Sister Mary Dandelion Gender Contrarian🏳️🌈 (@SisterMaryDande) March 6, 2021
“Who’s worse,” another questioned, “him or his brother?” Chris’ sibling Andrew Cuomo is currently under under intense scrutiny after multiple women accused him of sexual harrassment and misconduct. He has denied any wrongdoing.
PinkNews contacted Chris Cuomo for comment.
