Gov. Andrew Cuomo To Receive Emmy Award For His ‘Masterful Use Of Television’ During Coronavirus Pandemic
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is set to receive this year’s International Emmy Founder’s Award in recognition of his daily briefings in New York — that was at one point the epicenter of the coronavirus in the US.
“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,” International Academy President & CEO, Bruce L. Paisner said in a statement announcing Cuomo’s win.
“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.”
In a social media announcement, the International Emmy’s noted Cuomo’s “leadership” during the pandemic and his “masterful use” of the television.
Gov Andrew M Cuomo of NY will receive the International Emmy Founders Award in recognition of his leadership during the Covid19 pandemic & his masterful use of TV to inform & calm people around the world. The Emmy will be presented to @NYGovCuomo on Nov 23 https://t.co/dwKIImwYNV pic.twitter.com/1mKkmg6FKW
— International Emmy Awards (@iemmys) November 20, 2020
“Gov Andrew M. Cuomo of NY will receive the International Emmy Founders Award in recognition of his leadership during the Covid19 pandemic & his masterful use of TV to inform & calm people around the world,” it said.
The awards body went on to explain why the New York governor deserved the prestigious award which was earlier given to Vice President Al Gore, Oprah Winfrey, and Director Steven Spielberg.
“On March 2, 2020, New York Governor Cuomo conducted a media briefing from Manhattan to inform and educate New Yorkers and the public at large about the coronavirus outbreak that was just starting to be recognized as a massive public health threat,” the Emmy’s said in its statement.
“That 12-minute introduction, part of a 34-minute session with other state leaders, was the first of 111 consecutive daily briefings for New Yorkers and the wider world about the grim progress of the worst pandemic to hit the United States in a century,” it added, noting that this briefing was watched around the world.
The Founder’s Award is presented to an individual or organization who “crosses cultural boundaries to touch our common humanity”.
Cuomo’s award was, however, met with criticism on social media as the public highlighted how the New York governor’s policies also killed tens and thousands of people in the state.
“This is shameful,” Meghan McCain wrote.
This is shameful. https://t.co/7OqcOX2AI6
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) November 20, 2020
Social media backlash
Fox News senior meteorologist Janice Dean, whose family member died while in New York’s assisted living facilities also slammed the award.
“I wonder if the @TheEmmys will add an extra in memoriam section after they give @NYGovCuomo his award remembering all the seniors who died thanks to his amazing leadership skills,” Dean tweeted.
I wonder if the @TheEmmys will add an extra in memoriam section after they give @NYGovCuomo his award remembering all the seniors who died thanks to his amazing leadership skills.
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) November 20, 2020
She later added: “Reading all the tweets yelling about the @NYGovCuomo and @TheEmmys award he’s going to get for his ‘leadership’ makes me feel like I’m not alone in my anger and disgust.”
Reading all the tweets yelling about the @NYGovCuomo and @TheEmmys award he’s going to get for his “leadership” makes me feel like I’m not alone in my anger and disgust.
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) November 20, 2020
“I guess if @TheEmmys award goes to an actor pretending to be a governor, then @NYGovCuomo deserves it,” she added.
I guess if @TheEmmys award goes to an actor pretending to be a governor, then @NYGovCuomo deserves it. pic.twitter.com/nKwQRfLz4n
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) November 20, 2020
“Helpful to know that the @iemmy‘s supports giving awards to people whose policies are directly responsible for killing at least 6,500 New York seniors (with the actual number in the tens of thousands). What a ghoulish group of individuals you all are,” said Curtis Houck, managing editor of @NewsBusters.
Helpful to know that the @iemmy's supports giving awards to people whose policies are directly responsible for killing at least 6,500 New York seniors (with the actual number in the tens of thousands).
What a ghoulish group of individuals you all are. pic.twitter.com/RthTYsco0x
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) November 20, 2020
Another one wrote: “Andrew Cuomo deserves to be on trial for the elderly people his nursing home order directly murdered. Instead, he’s getting an Emmy.”
Andrew Cuomo deserves to be on trial for the elderly people his nursing home order directly murdered. Instead, he's getting an Emmy. https://t.co/06wlXtP2pq
— Ben Domenech (@bdomenech) November 20, 2020
Jonah Goldberg, editor in chief of TheDispatch said: “It’s like certain cadres controlling the commanding heights of the culture actually want everyone not indoctrinated into their self-congratulatory cult to hate them.”
It's like certain cadres controlling the commanding heights of the culture actually want everyone not indoctrinated into their self-congratulatory cult to hate them. https://t.co/Q78FB7c5B8
— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahDispatch) November 20, 2020
Washington Examiner’s Siraj Hashmi also weighed in saying “[I]f we’re lucky, Andrew Cuomo will receive a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in ending suffering in New York’s nursing homes[.]”
if we’re lucky, Andrew Cuomo will receive a Nobel Peace Prize for his work in ending suffering in New York’s nursing homes https://t.co/C9NTQnjW5f
— Siraj Hashmi (@SirajAHashmi) November 20, 2020
New York was one of the most-ravished states during the initial onslaught of the coronavirus — and to this point maintains the highest number of coronavirus-related deaths across the country with 34,172 dead so far making up 13.14% of the total number of COVID-19 related deaths 260,138.
The number of infected people in the state reached 622,087 as of Friday.
