Control of New York state isn’t the only thing Andrew Cuomo lost this week. The alleged dog abandoner, who officially left office Monday, has also had his Emmy revoked. Per Variety, the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences decided to take back Cuomo’s honorary Emmy after New York Attorney General Letitia James released a report which alleged that Cuomo had sexually harassed eleven women. This report lead directly to his resignation, which he announced on August 10th. On Tuesday, New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul was sworn in, and will now serve out the rest of Cuomo’s term as the first female governor of New York.
“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,” reads a statement from the organization. “His name and any reference to his receiving the award will be eliminated from International Academy materials going forward.”
The Founders Award—“created to recognize individuals for their ability to bridge cultural divides and connect to a common humanity”— was initially awarded to Cuomo for his “effective communication and leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic” via his daily, televised COVID-19 briefings at the height of the pandemic. Past recipients of the Founders Award include Oprah Winfrey, Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, and Norman Lear, all of whom have managed not to get their awards taken away.
Cuomo is not the first person to have his Founders Award revoked, though. Hollywood pariah Kevin Spacey was initially set to receive the Founders Award in November 2017, but had the honor revoked before even receiving it after multiple men, including actor Anthony Rapp, accused Spacey of sexual assault and misconduct in October of that year.
As for Cuomo’s recent Emmy-loss, it seems that two-time Emmy winner and failed gubernatorial challenger of Cuomo Cynthia Nixon has had the last laugh. “The difference between me and Andrew Cuomo?” she tweeted. “Neither of us is governor, but I still have my Emmy(s).”
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