It has been a rough few days for the Cuomo brothers. Just days after Chris Cuomo joked about using female pronouns at an LGBTQ town hall, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo dropped the n-word during a live radio interview.
Gov Cuomo was discussing racism against Italian-Americans during a call with WAMC radio on Tuesday when he used the derogatory word.
As part of the interview, the governor was asked about the controversy surrounding the celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day versus Columbus Day.
Cuomo, who is half Sicilian, said: ‘They used an expression that Southern Italians were called, I believe they were saying Southern Italians, Sicilians were called… and pardon my language, but I’m just quoting the Times “ni**er wops. N-word wops,” as a derogatory comment.’
The governor, who was referring to the Albany Times Union newspaper, went on to explain: ‘When I said that “wop” was a derogatory comment, that was when the Times Union told me, no, you should look in Wikipedia, “wop” really means a dandy.’
A DailyMail.com request for comment to Gov Cuomo’s office was not immediately returned.
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New York Governor Andrew Cuomo was discussing racism against Italian-Americans during a call with WAMC radio on Tuesday when he used the derogatory word
Cuomo (pictured Monday) said: ‘They used an expression that Southern Italians were called, I believe they were saying Southern Italians, Sicilians were called… and pardon my language, but I’m just quoting the Times “ni**er wops. N-word wops,” as a derogatory comment’
The governor’s on-air gaffe comes just days after his brother and TV host, Chris Cuomo, was forced to apologize after joking about using female pronouns at an LGBTQ town hall event with Kamala Harris on Thursday.
The Democratic presidential candidate joined the CNN host on the stage at the televised Los Angeles event, telling him: ‘My pronouns are she/her/hers.’
Cuomo quickly replied: ‘Mine too.’ After a brief pause Harris responded: ‘Alright.’
The comment quickly drew criticism online, with the presidential forum dedicated to LGBTQ issues.
And Cuomo issued an apology on Twitter saying he should ‘not have’ said it, telling followers he is ‘an ally of the LGBTQ community’.
He wrote: ‘PLEASE READ: When Sen Harris said her pronouns were she her and her’s, I said mine too. I should not have. I apologize.
‘I am an ally of the LGBTQ community, and I am sorry because I am committed to helping us achieve equality. Thank you for watching our townhall.’
Chris Cuomo issued this apology on Twitter after joking about using female pronouns at an LGBTQ town hall event with Kamala Harris. He called himself ‘an ally of the LGBTQ community’
Kamala Harris joined the CNN host on the stage at the televised Los Angeles event, telling him: ‘My pronouns are she/her/hers.’ Cuomo quickly replied: ‘Mine too.’ Harris responded: ‘Alright’
The event was the second major presidential forum dedicated to LGBTQ issues during the Democratic nominating campaign, following an event in Iowa last month that drew 10 of the 19 candidates vying to take on President Donald Trump in the November 2020 election.
Following Cuomo’s comment, viewers were quick to blast his reaction, calling it ‘not okay’ and ‘uncool’.
The National Center for Lesbian Rights wrote: ‘Dear @ChrisCuomo, people’s pronouns are not a punchline.
‘In a year where LGBTQ Americans are finally being recognized on the national Presidential stage, making jokes about gender pronouns is beneath your dignity. Please do better in the future. #EqualityTownHall’.
One viewer wrote: ‘As soon as she is introduced, @KamalaHarris immediately shares her pronouns. Then @ChrisCuomo promptly ruins the important moment. #EqualityTownHall’
And another added: ‘YUCK. @ChrisCuomo just made a joke that his pronouns are She/Her/Hers. Bigotry isn’t cute especially at an #EqualityTownHall.’
Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is vying to become the first openly gay U.S. president, spoke about his experience as a gay man.
He recounted serving in the military in Afghanistan while he was still closeted and realizing he might die without being able to know what it was like to fall in love and marry.
The comment at the televised Los Angeles event quickly drew criticism from viewers online
The event was the second major presidential forum dedicated to LGBTQ issues during the Democratic nominating campaign, following an event in Iowa last month
U.S. Senator Cory Booker opened the forum, stressing inclusion and acceptance.
‘You can’t lead the people if you can’t love the people – all the people,’ he said.
Senator Bernie Sanders, a top Democratic contender, missed the event while he recovers from a heart attack.
Gay rights advocates have expressed dismay at the Trump administration’s record on LGBTQ issues, including a ban on transgender individuals serving in the U.S. military.
Ahead of the forum, Buttigieg and U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris released plans to secure equality for LGBTQ people.