‘Rules don’t apply’: Chris Cuomo’s wife Cristina is criticized for taking yoga class in a Jimmy Choo store in the Hamptons while many gyms struggle to survive
- Cuomo is a wellness publisher, wife of CNN anchor, sister-in-law of governor
- On Thursday she posted her private yoga class indoors, with no face masks
- Andrew Cuomo said there will be no gyms open in the state in the near future
- Social media users reacted with anger to her post, calling it ‘hypocrisy’
The wife of CNN anchor Chris Cuomo is facing a barrage of criticism after participating in a yoga class in an empty Jimmy Choo store in the Hamptons, without wearing a face mask, while gym owners in the state beg the governor to allow them to reopen.
Cristina Cuomo, whose brother-in-law Andrew Cuomo is the governor of New York, posted the hour-long private yoga class to her Instagram on Thursday.
‘As we can’t do yoga in a studio yet, we practiced together at the new @jimmychoo store in East Hampton, alone in this serene space, eying the beautiful collection of shoes,’ she said, captioning the video of her with instructor Erika Halweil.
Cuomo, 50, is the publisher of wellness magazine Purist.
She tested positive for COVID-19 in April, having caught it off her husband, and wore a face mask for the first minute of her video, before removing it for the rest of the hour.
Cristina Cuomo promoted her magazine Purist before the hour-long class on Thursday
Cuomo and her teacher Erika Halweil wore masks at first, but removed them for the class
There is no plan yet to reopen gyms in New York, even as the whole state as of Monday moves to Phase Four – the final stage in reopening.
Gyms, like theaters and the majority of shopping malls, will remain closed for the foreseeable future.
Cuomo did her yoga surrounded by pairs of Jimmy Choos, and promoted in particular the Ray shoes, which sell for $695 a pair.
The backlash online was swift in coming.
‘Why is it @CristinaCuomo can workout indoors in the Hamptons Jimmy Choo store with a trainer, WITH NO MASKS ON, and I can’t open my gym within the CDC guidelines?’ tweeted Marco Guanilo, owner of Momentum Fitness in New York City.
Marco Guanilo, owner of Momentum Fitness in New York City, was angered by the video
Podcast host Joe Miller pointed out the family broke the rules previously over Easter
He linked to a July 17 tweet from Governor Cuomo saying that gyms, as indoor places, were not reopening any time soon.
One man tweeted: ‘You guys didn’t realize? America is turning into one of those countries where the ruling political class can do whatever the hell they want, while the people can’t.’
Podcast host Joe Miller added: ‘They also had Easter dinner with extended guests after telling us “dont go visit gramma”….. #rulesdontapplyhere.’
And Anthony Renna, owner of Five Iron Fitness in New York City, attacked Cuomo for the family’s double standards.
‘How about this for hypocrisy,’ he wrote on Facebook.
‘Cristina Cuomo is selling her products while working out indoors at the Hamptons Jimmy Choo with her trainer; No social distancing, no masks.
‘Why is this ok?
‘Why is she allowed to do this and all of these gyms about to go out of business can’t do one on one training safely?
‘You can’t make this up.’
Anthony Renna, owner of Five Iron Fitness, attacked Cuomo for the family’s double standards