Andrew Cuomo Loses Emmy Award After Leaving Governor’s Office

Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D-New York) has lost his honorary Emmy for his COVID-19 briefings during the pandemic last year.

On Tuesday, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences released a statement announcing the cancelation of the honor after he left the governor’s office due to his multiple sexual harassment scandals, which Attorney General Letitia James (D-New York) confirmed earlier this month.

“In light of the New York Attorney General’s report and Andrew Cuomo’s subsequent resignation as governor, it is rescinding his special 2020 International Emmy Award,” the academy said Tuesday. “His name and any reference to his receiving the award will be eliminated from International academy materials going forward.”

Cuomo’s special 2020 International Emmy Award was given to him “for effective communication and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

“The Governor’s 111 daily briefings worked so well because he effectively created television shows, with characters, plot lines, and stories of success and failure,” Bruce Paisner, International Academy president, said at the time when the award was given to Cuomo. “People around the world tuned in to find out what was going on, and New York tough became a symbol of the determination to fight back.”

Meanwhile, Kathy Hochul, the Lt. Governor of New York, was sworn in as governor on Tuesday, hours after Cuomo left.

“I look forward to a fresh, collaborative approach,” Hochul said during her first remarks as a governor. “That’s how I’ve always conducted myself. It’ll be nothing new for me, but it’s something I’m planning on introducing to the state Capitol.”

During her speech, she swore that she would restore the faith in the New York governor’s office again.

“I want people to believe in their government again,” she added. “It’s important that people have faith,” she continued. “Our strength comes from the faith and the confidence of the people who put us in these offices and I take that very seriously.”