Semafor was able to obtain text messages that hinted at CNN’s former parent company, WarnerMedia, using former anchor Chris Cuomo’s connection to his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
This connection was used to lobby for policies during the COVID-19 lockdowns that would directly benefit the company.
Chris Cuomo filed a lawsuit against CNN for wrongful termination. This lawsuit had text messages as evidence pointing to Cuomo using his family ties to get Andrew Cuomo to pass policies favorable to CNN.
Chris Cuomo was fired after an investigation into claims he tapped into his journalism contacts to help defend his brother, who was confronting several allegations of sexual assault by female members of his staff.
On top of that, CNN conducted investigations into sexual harassment claims against Andrew Cuomo.
According to the text message exchanges, WarnerMedia executive Allison Gollust requested that Andrew Cuomo speak with Warner executive Ann Sarnoff. WarnerMedia hoped Cuomo’s government would relax COVID-19 restrictions on movie theaters throughout New York state.
Several weeks later, Cuomo made an announcement that most theaters in New York state would re-open.
The media giant was keen on profiting off of “Tenet,” a high profile movie directed by Christopher Nolan which many industry insiders believed was going to dominate at the box office.
In the end, the movie grossed $363.7 million worldwide at the box office. This figure was well below industry insider projections. They pegged box office numbers between $400 million and $500 million as the figures needed for the movie to break even.
According to the Gateway Pundit, chairman Jeff Zucker’s lover Allison Gollust resigned from CNN, following an investigation discovering issues connected to the Cuomo brothers.
Zucker’s office fling with Allison Gollust, the chief marketing officer for CNN, was exposed during an investigation into Chris Cuomo’s alleged acts of sexual misconduct.
After failing to reveal his sexual escapades with Gollust, Zucker ended up resigning.