Former CNN exec Allison Gollust let Andrew Cuomo pick interview topics: report

Ousted CNN govt Allison Gollust was discovered to have allowed former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to dictate what he wished to be requested throughout an on-air interview within the early days of the pandemic, a report mentioned Friday.

Gollust, 49, who briefly labored for the disgraced ex-gov as his communications director, handed the urged matters alongside to junior producers, and wrote “Performed” in an e-mailed reply to Cuomo’s request earlier than a 2020 interview, The New York Occasions reported.

The messages had been uncovered throughout an inner investigation into alleged office misconduct by since-fired star anchor Chris Cuomo, the report mentioned.

Chris Cuomo, the ex-governor’s brother, was fired in December after CNN obtained a letter claiming he had sexually assaulted a former co-worker in his workplace throughout a foodless “lunch” in 2011, the paper reported earlier this week. Cuomo had denied the accusation.

Cuomo had been beneath scrutiny over his efforts to assist his brother battle the sexual-misconduct allegations that in the end compelled him to resign over the summer time.

Gollust passed along suggested topics for former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to junior producers at CNN.
Gollust handed alongside urged matters for former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to junior producers at CNN.
AP
Gollust's messages were uncovered during an investigation into former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo.
Gollust’s messages had been uncovered throughout an investigation into former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo.
Jeremy Freeman/CNN

The Submit beforehand reported on former CNN boss Jeff Zucker and his paramour Gollust’s inappropriately shut friendship with Andrew Cuomo, together with personally calling him to do information segments along with his brother and even teaching him on what to say throughout his COVID briefings.

Gollust and Zucker — the latter of whom dramatically stop CNN this month after their affair was uncovered — additionally gave Andrew Cuomo limitless constructive protection due to their relationship, sources mentioned.

In keeping with the Occasions, Cuomo advised Gollust, CNN’s longtime communications and advertising and marketing chief, that he wished to debate a current dialog with then-President Donald Trump and New York’s COVID lockdown throughout a March 28, 2020, look. The matters had been newsworthy, but it surely was uncommon for a senior govt to be concerned within the pre-interview course of along with her ex-employer.

Zucker knew about lots of the exchanges between Gollust and Cuomo, the paper reported.

Zucker was compelled to resign, ostensibly for not disclosing his romantic relationship with Gollust. The actual catalyst for his dismissal, nonetheless, was the comfortable relationship that investigators uncovered between Zucker, Gollust and the Cuomos after sifting by means of hundreds of e-mails and texts, in keeping with the report.

Allison Gollust resigned from her executive position at CNN over an investigation that she and Jeff Zucker violated company policies.
Allison Gollust resigned from her govt place at CNN over an investigation that she and Jeff Zucker violated firm insurance policies.
Matt Baron/Shutterstock

Gollust resigned earlier this week. She confronted stress to step down as a result of company brass at CNN discovered her assertion concerning the extent of her romantic relationship with Zucker to be “deceptive,” The Wall Road Journal reported.

Shortly after the consensual workplace romance was made public, Gollust had mentioned her relationship with Zucker “modified throughout COVID.” However some staff at mother or father firm WarnerMedia and CNN didn’t purchase it, the Journal reported. Rumors had circulated for years that the 2 execs had been having an affair, which performed an element in ending each their marriages.

A spokeswoman for Gollust advised the Journal: “Persevering with to publicly debate the personal particulars of her private life reeks of sexism and solely additional underscores WarnerMedia’s retaliatory actions towards her.”

Risa Heller, a Gollust spokeswoman, additionally defended her journalistic integrity, and mentioned WarnerMedia was unaware of the “on a regular basis [newsroom] observe,” and compelled her out as “retaliation.”

Gollust’s discussions with Cuomo “under no circumstances urged that inclusion of those matters was a situation of the interview, nor did she counsel the interview needs to be restricted to those topics,” Heller advised the Occasions.

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