Chris Cuomo throws his lemon under the bus in pursuit of CNN Cash

Chris Cuomo’s affection for Don Lemon appeared to have come to an end, taking a particularly ugly turn on Wednesday when the obnoxious anchor threw his old CNN “brother” off the bus in an attempt to take 125 million dollars from the network.

Cuomo is demanding nine-figure sums from CNN in an arbitration filing, seeking damages for breach of contract, loss of wages and what he alleges was an assassination attempt on his character following the sacking. unwarranted discharge in December.

In the profile, which was first reported by Deadline, Cuomo and his attorneys devoted an entire section to lashing out at some of his former CNN colleagues. Under the headline “CNN’s failure to enforce policy against other employees,” Cuomo alleges that the network, led by ousted lovers Jeff Zucker and Allison Gollust, omitted a number of resources. potential for an ethics violation while firing a bazooka at Cuomo’s career for helping to deepen the dirt on women who accused his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, of sexual misconduct sex.

Among the talents Cuomo targets is Lemon, with whom he has famously shared a close bond — including outings in the Hamptons, Instagram selfies, a joint podcast, and a close exchange. like every night about “I love yous” during their prime time broadcast handing over.

“I love you, brother,” Lemon told Cuomo in August just before the start of the segment about the sexual harassment allegations against Chris’ brother. “I love you, D. Lemon,” Cuomo replied with a smile.

But Wednesday’s filing was nothing short of warm. “As long as CNN’s ratings aren’t affected, Zucker and Gollust are willing to overlook major transgressions by CNN personalities like Don Lemon and Jake Tapper, or even engage in blatant misconduct themselves. ,” it alleges.

Cuomo specifically cited how, in November 2021, Empire Actor Jussie Smollett testified that Lemon personally warned him that Chicago police did not believe his false accusations of hate crimes. Cuomo’s team wrote:

“Interfering with an ongoing investigation by texting Smollett is an untenable ethical violation,” the filing argued. “However, CNN did nothing; Lemon was not disciplined in any way.”

Cuomo’s attempt to woo his one-time friend for a hefty sum of money from CNN is perhaps the final blow to a very public, sentimental friendship. The couple’s nightly “sweet talk” often sparks social media chatter as the couple declare their love for each other and share anecdotes about their vacation – ultimately leading to a 23-episode CNN podcast titled The Handoff and self-hosted by the two. described “brothers.”

While Lemon has yet to publicly comment on his friend’s firing, he delivered the first blow last month when he argued in a staff meeting after Zucker was fired that Cuomo shouldn’t be paid any compensation. any subsidy.

“Do you think about the message it sends to the journalists in this company and to the larger public, that someone can be found violating those journalistic standards and then get paid handsomely for them? it’s not?” WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar toasted a lemon during a chat in New York, Insider reported. “And what is to stop the next person from being able to get compensated for it, spreading rumors, or what you have to do with the press?”

Cuomo also targeted several other former CNN colleagues who were accused of violating company ethics with impunity. How is his profile quoted? Leader Host Jake Tapper suggested that Republican candidate Sean Parnell run in a “safer” district instead of running against incumbent Representative Conor Lamb (D-PA). Tapper faces no internal investigation and faces no consequences for his actions, Cuomo lamented his former work mate.

Tapper, too, having performed a petting act of Cuomo, appeared troubled in private that the old anchor had effectively destroyed Zucker’s career by threatening the network in the wake of his own ouster. “An outside observer might say, ‘Well, it looks like Chris Cuomo has succeeded,’” Tapper said during a meeting with DC staffers with Kilar. “He threatened Jeff. Jeff says we don’t negotiate with terrorists. And Chris blew this place up. How do we overcome the perception that this is the bad guy winning? “

CNN, Lemon and Tapper did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In the filing, Cuomo also addressed the scandal of CNN’s Director of Legal Analysis Jeffrey Toobin, where he was caught masturbating during a Zoom meeting with New Yorkers colleagues — an act that Cuomo described as “a terrible act of sexual harassment” and one for which Toobin was never forced to issue a public apology. When contacted by The Daily Beast on Wednesday, Toobin declined to comment.

“CNN has allowed employees to withhold their jobs for far more serious violations than anything CNN alleges Cuomo has ever done,” Cuomo lamented in his filing. “But because Cuomo was closely connected with Governor Cuomo, whose political standing and corresponding values ​​with CNN have changed dramatically, CNN has falsely stated that Cuomo violated its policies and his practice as an excuse to terminate his contract. This is the epitome of hypocrisy, as there is no valid basis for terminating his contract.”