Political commentator Angela Rye got here ahead with a shocking sexual harassment allegation in opposition to her former CNN colleague Chris Cuomo, whom she claimed referred to as her “tinsel crotch” by way of textual content.
On the primary installment of her “Native Land Pod” podcast, Rye started by addressing her “disappearance” from CNN after a number of years on the community.
She stated her exit was extra “impactful” on her than she initially believed, recalling how she was advised by CNN in January 2021 her contract was not being renewed on account of a shift in concentrate on COVID relatively than politics, one thing she knew was “a lie” since “two Black girls have been employed for half my present contributor price proper after.”
She went on to inform a narrative she stated she had “suppressed for 3 years.”
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“Simply 10 days previous to receiving that decision on Jan. 21, the darling of the community and probably the most influential hosts throughout Jeff Zucker’s tenure was texting me a few phase thought he had for his primetime present,” Rye stated. “Chris Cuomo was all of a sudden excited a few outstanding common function for me the place I might test the left. In truth, I had my doubts on the real nature of this concept… Cuomo got here up with this specific phase thought after a textual content change that went woefully mistaken.”
“All of it started on New Yr’s Day after I posted an image of myself wanting ahead to the brand new 12 months in a gold-sequined bikini on Instagram. Cuomo screenshot the picture and stated, ‘Joyful New Yr, tinsel crotch,’” Rye advised listeners. “Shocked, I learn and reread the message a dozen instances, making an attempt to know. If I someway introduced this on myself since no matter you publish on social is truthful sport, proper? I teared up… I felt just like the most secure place I had on a present on CNN had been compromised.”
In line with Rye, Cuomo texted her whats up a couple of hours later and the subsequent day tried calling her to “talk about work.” She stated she delayed responding to him, and when she did, she requested him if he “nonetheless needed to debate his work thought regardless of him mentioning tinsel bikini and tinsel backside alongside the way in which.”
“As I take into consideration this, it feels so f—ing small in comparison with what different girls within the office expertise, however I used to be afraid to talk up,” Rye stated. “Between New Yr’s and my follow-up, an revolt occurred on Capitol Hill the place I feared I might lose family members. I felt like if I referred to as him out, I used to be risking every thing I used to be lastly beginning to construct with the community and, as somebody who is understood for being brave, I can’t start to inform you how a lot I felt like… a coward. In 10 brief days, I felt like what was the clear journey to the Promised Land changed into quicksand.”
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She then appeared to direct her tearful message to Cuomo himself.
“I used to be mad at myself for not addressing this sooner. I used to be mad at myself for shielding your picture with the Black girls I do know who liked you and regarded ahead to listening to your voice,” Rye stated. “I do know I am not the one one, and honestly, I am mad about that, too, that everybody has given you a go for concern of what it would imply to carry you accountable for clearly inappropriate habits and overstepping. I used to be mad at myself for shrinking within the face of energy when folks rely upon me to face up, to talk up. This was more durable for me as a result of we have been legitimately cool. We had an amazing rapport and I used to be nervous about damaging a friendship and a working relationship that you simply truly broken. I attempted to redirect you repeatedly and also you abused the grace you didn’t deserve.”
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She continued: “So I apologize. I apologize for not leaning into what I do know is my mission and shrinking within the face of energy, for not doing extra. I apologize to each girl who wanted a voice, and I used to be silent. I apologize for ready within the wings for alternative that by no means got here whereas I sacrificed sixth-grade, wounded Angela who desperately wanted a protector within the face of bullies. I apologize for understanding be brave, however not appearing on it.
“I apologize to the individuals who skilled this in newsrooms, halls of Congress, the C suite assist employees roles and school lecture halls. I see you and I would like you to know you are not alone. And I apologize to me for minimizing the affect this had on me, for wallowing in disgrace and shoulda-couldas after I simply wasn’t able to acknowledge or communicate on what it’s. So no, Chris, I will not be a visitor in your program now or later. Thanks for the platform. It was not value all the psychological and emotional turmoil, and I thank God that I am clear about the truth that you’ll be able to’t take away a voice you by no means created, you or the community executives who enabled you.”
A consultant for Cuomo didn’t instantly reply to Fox Information Digital’s request for remark. CNN declined to remark.
Cuomo was fired by CNN in 2021 after an nameless former colleague introduced forth a sexual assault allegation in opposition to him when the pair labored collectively at ABC Information. Cuomo firmly denied her claims.
Individually, former ABC Information producer Shelley Ross got here ahead months earlier alleging Cuomo had grabbed her buttock at a piece operate in 2005. She produced an e-mail the place he appeared to confess to the incident and apologize for his habits.
The allegations got here at a time when the as soon as outstanding CNN anchor was being scrutinized over revelations that he was aiding his brother, then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, behind the scenes throughout his sexual harassment scandal, leading to his resignation.
Chris Cuomo has since joined NewsNation.