If Cuomo Thinks 'Fredo' Is a Racist Slur, He Shouldn't Have Used It on Air in 2010
If you heard Chris Cuomo’s viral rant after being referred to as “Fredo,” you might have gotten the idea that the CNN host isn’t a fan of the nickname.
But as a recently unearthed interview from 2010 reveals, Cuomo didn’t always feel this way.
A bit of background: For those of you who aren’t familiar with 1970s cinema, Fredo is the character in “The Godfather” series who’s seen largely as a pushover and a disappointment to his family.
In a video that went viral on Monday, Cuomo can be heard going on an unhinged rant after a man refers to him as “Fredo.”
“I thought that was who you were,” the man in the video tells Cuomo.
“No, punk-a– b—–s from the right call me ‘Fredo.’ My name is Chris Cuomo. I’m an anchor on CNN,” Cuomo replied.
“‘Fredo’ was from ‘The Godfather.’ He was a weak brother and they use that as an Italian slur — are any of you Italian?” he asked. “It’s a f—ing insult to your people. It’s an insult to your f—ing people. It’s like the n-word for us. Is that a cool f—ing thing?”
The two men continued to exchange words. Cuomo appeared to physically threaten him.
WARNING: The following tweet and video contains profane language that some viewers my find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.
“I’ll f—ing ruin your s—,” Cuomo said. “I’ll f—ing throw you down these stairs like a f—ing punk.”
The man said, “Please do.”
Then Cuomo replied: “So you can f—ing sue?”
“Then take a swing at me,” he said. “You wanna call me ‘Fredo,’ take a f—ing swing. … I’m f—ing right here. I’ll f—ing wreck your s—.”
A man in NY yesterday approached CNN’s Chris Cuomo and called him “Fredo”
Cuomo: “You’re going to have a problem”
Man: “What are you going to do about it?”
Cuomo: “I’ll fuckin ruin your shit. I’ll fucking throw you down these stairs”
Credit: “THAT’S THE POINT with Brandon” pic.twitter.com/4iWwzaSQpF
— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) August 13, 2019
Cuomo clearly thought it was offensive for the man to call him “Fredo.”
But he didn’t always think so.
“Cuomo was interviewed by Curtis Sliwa on his AM 970 radio show in January 2010 about whether his brother Andrew might seek the Democratic nomination for governor,” the New York Post reported.
“I’ve dubbed [the Cuomo family] la Cuomo Nostra,” Sliwa said.
“There is a group of people — politicos — who always hint they might run, but not necessarily plunge all the way, and they are members of la Cuomo Nostra.”
Cuomo chuckled, then responded, “Who am I, then, Fredo?”
“Yes, exactly,” Sliwa said. “So you better be careful that your brother Andrew doesn’t kiss you on both cheeks and then all of a sudden they take you out on the middle of the lake and then where’s Chris?”
“He kisses me plenty because he’s a great big brother,” Cuomo replied.
Cuomo clearly didn’t find the “Fredo” nickname offensive back in 2010, or he wouldn’t have brought it up!
Now to his credit, Cuomo has apologized for his recent rant. But the fact that he got so upset at being called “Fredo” considering that back in 2010, he referred to himself by that nickname, makes you wonder what’s changed.
Truth and Accuracy
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.
Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.
