Four Years After the Scandal: Where Is Chris Cuomo Now?

It’s been four years since Chris Cuomo, once the golden boy of CNN’s prime-time lineup, saw his career implode in a firestorm of controversy. In 2021, the charismatic anchor of Cuomo Prime Time was fired after revelations that he had secretly aided his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, in navigating a series of sexual harassment allegations. The scandal rocked the media world, raising questions about journalistic ethics, family loyalty, and the inner workings of one of America’s most influential news networks. Once a household name with a nightly audience of millions, Chris Cuomo’s fall was swift and brutal. So, where is he now in 2025? The answer is a tale of resilience, reinvention, and lingering shadows from a past that refuses to fade.

The Scandal That Changed Everything

To understand where Chris Cuomo is today, we must first revisit the events that led to his dramatic exit from CNN. In early 2021, Andrew Cuomo, then New York’s governor, faced mounting allegations of sexual harassment from multiple women, including former aides. A damning report by New York Attorney General Letitia James in August 2021 confirmed that Andrew had violated state and federal laws, creating a hostile work environment. The report led to his resignation, but it also cast a spotlight on his younger brother, Chris, a prominent CNN anchor.

Documents released during the investigation revealed that Chris had been far more than a concerned sibling. He participated in strategy calls with Andrew’s team, advising on how to counter the allegations and even drafting public statements to downplay the accusations. More shockingly, he leveraged his media contacts to gather intelligence on upcoming stories, including potential exposés by outlets like The New Yorker. For a journalist whose career was built on the pursuit of truth, these actions were a stunning breach of ethics, blurring the line between family loyalty and professional duty.

CNN initially barred Chris from covering the story on air to avoid bias, but the extent of his involvement only became clear when text messages and emails surfaced. The network suspended him in November 2021, and by December 4, 2021, CNN announced his termination, citing violations of journalistic standards. To make matters worse, a separate allegation of sexual misconduct against Chris himself emerged from a former ABC News colleague, further tarnishing his reputation. Though the accusation was not fully substantiated, it added fuel to an already raging fire.

The fallout was catastrophic. Chris, once CNN’s top-rated anchor, was out of a job, his reputation in tatters. He later admitted on the Open Book With Anthony Scaramucci podcast in 2023 that the scandal pushed him to a dark place, where he contemplated “killing everybody, including myself.” The raw emotion in his words underscored the personal toll of his public disgrace.

A New Chapter at NewsNation

Four years later, Chris Cuomo has carved out a new path, though it’s a far cry from the dazzling heights of his CNN days. In July 2022, he joined NewsNation, a lesser-known cable news outlet owned by Nexstar Media Group, to host a prime-time show simply titled Cuomo. The move marked a fresh start for the veteran journalist, who brought with him two decades of experience covering everything from war zones to the 9/11 attacks. NewsNation positioned Chris as a key figure in its bid to compete with giants like CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News, emphasizing his ability to deliver “independent, hard-hitting journalism.”

On Cuomo, which airs weeknights at 8 p.m. ET, Chris has leaned into his reputation as a straight-talking, no-nonsense anchor. He’s interviewed high-profile figures like California Governor Gavin Newsom, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and celebrities such as Kanye West and Sean Penn. He’s also traveled to conflict zones, including Ukraine and Israel, to report on global crises, proving he hasn’t lost his appetite for hard-hitting stories.

Yet, the numbers tell a different story. Cuomo has struggled to attract the kind of viewership Chris enjoyed at CNN, where Cuomo Prime Time was a ratings juggernaut. NewsNation’s smaller platform and limited reach have confined Chris to a narrower audience, a stark contrast to his days as a cable news titan. Industry observers note that while he remains a compelling broadcaster, the shadow of his scandal has made it difficult to regain the trust of a broader audience.

The Chris Cuomo Project: A Voice Beyond the Studio

Unwilling to let his career be defined solely by a nightly news show, Chris has embraced new media to stay relevant. In July 2022, he launched The Chris Cuomo Project, a podcast and YouTube series that offers his unfiltered take on politics, culture, and global affairs. The platform allows him to speak freely, untethered from the constraints of traditional media. Episodes drop every Tuesday and Thursday, covering topics from the impact of Donald Trump’s second presidency to the influence of figures like Joe Rogan and Tucker Carlson on the media landscape.

The podcast has given Chris a space to rebuild his brand as an “anti-partisan” voice, railing against the divisiveness of political parties and advocating for a centrist approach. In a February 2025 episode, he outlined three key strategies for Democrats to remain competitive, urging them to focus on economic issues and “progressive pragmatism” over performative politics. His posts on social media platforms reflect this stance, with messages like, “I am anti-partisan. Always have been. Parties are killing us by division.”

While The Chris Cuomo Project has garnered a loyal following, it hasn’t reached the cultural juggernaut status of top-tier podcasts. Still, it’s a lifeline for Chris, allowing him to connect directly with listeners and maintain a presence in the public square. His willingness to engage with YouTube comments and listener calls suggests a desire to rebuild trust on a more personal level.

The Legal Battle: Fighting CNN

Chris hasn’t let his firing from CNN go quietly. In March 2022, he filed a $125 million lawsuit against the network, claiming wrongful termination and reputational damage. His legal team argued that CNN, under then-president Jeff Zucker, was aware of his efforts to help his brother and had even encouraged his on-air interviews with Andrew during the COVID-19 pandemic to boost ratings. The lawsuit alleges that CNN used Chris as a “scapegoat” to deflect criticism, pointing to inconsistencies in how the network handled ethical violations by other anchors.

The case, which also seeks $15 million in unpaid salary from his contract, remains unresolved as of June 2025. Chris’s lawyer, Bryan Freedman, has accused CNN executives, including Zucker and Allison Gollust, of complicity in Andrew’s defense, claiming they actively supported the governor’s media strategy. CNN has denied these allegations, and the legal battle continues to cast a shadow over Chris’s comeback efforts. The outcome could have significant financial and reputational implications, but for now, it’s a reminder of the unresolved tensions from his CNN days.

A Family in the Spotlight

The scandal’s ripple effects extend to Chris’s brother, Andrew, who is staging his own comeback. In March 2025, Andrew announced his candidacy for New York City mayor, positioning himself as a seasoned leader to address a “city in crisis.” Polls show him as a frontrunner in the Democratic primary, despite his own tarnished legacy. Chris has stayed largely silent on his brother’s campaign, likely to avoid reigniting scrutiny of their past collaboration. However, the brothers’ intertwined narratives continue to fuel public fascination, with Andrew’s run drawing inevitable comparisons to their shared fall from grace.

The Cuomo family’s political dynasty—rooted in their father, Mario Cuomo, a former New York governor—remains a potent force. Chris, Andrew, and their siblings grew up in Queens, steeped in public service and ambition. Yet, the scandals have left scars, with Chris’s career trajectory serving as a cautionary tale of how personal ties can derail professional success.

The Road Ahead: Redemption or Reinvention?

At 54, Chris Cuomo is a man in transition. His move to NewsNation and The Chris Cuomo Project shows a determination to stay in the game, but the path to redemption is fraught. The media landscape has changed since his CNN heyday, with audiences increasingly turning to independent voices and digital platforms. Chris’s embrace of podcasting and social media suggests he’s adapting to this shift, but his past continues to loom large. Posts on platforms like Spotify highlight his efforts to weigh in on major issues, from Trump’s policies to global conflicts, but rebuilding a reputation as a trusted journalist will take time.

The personal toll of the scandal lingers. Chris’s candid admission of struggling with his mental health post-firing humanizes him, but it also underscores the depth of his fall. His awards—Emmys, Polk, and Peabody honors for past reporting—attest to his talent, but they now coexist with a narrative of ethical missteps.

In 2025, Chris Cuomo is neither the disgraced exile of 2021 nor the triumphant star of his CNN years. He’s a journalist fighting to redefine himself, balancing a new platform with an unresolved past. Whether he can fully escape the shadow of his scandal—or whether it will define him forever—remains an open question. For now, he’s pressing forward, one broadcast, one podcast, and one legal battle at a time, determined to prove that his story isn’t over yet.