On Friday, after CNN’s Chris Cuomo – the brother of embattled New York Governor Andrew Cuomo – sang the theme to the classic TV show “Good Times” he told host Don Lemon, “I’m black on the inside.”
Viewers were not happy about the incident.
CNN offered its own rendition of the Good Times theme song.@DonLemon: “How do you know the words to Good Times?”@ChrisCuomo: “You know I’m black on the inside.” pic.twitter.com/Uc3NvOOIrN
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) March 7, 2021
CNN’s Cuomo: ‘You Know I’m Black On The Inside’
Amused by Cuomo’s singing, Lemon asked Cuomo, “How do you know the words to ‘Good Times’?”
“You know I’m black on the inside,” Cuomo replied to Lemon and continued singing.
The backlash against Cuomo, who is white, was immediate and fierce.
Sister2Sister magazine Managing Editor Aisha Staggers went all-in.
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“It’s f***ing offensive. Black isn’t something you can just say you feel you are inside without having to deal with the racism that comes with being physically Black on the outside.”
It’s fucking offensive. Black isn’t something you can just say you feel you are inside without having to deal with the racism that comes with being physically Black on the outside. This is cultural appropriation.
— Aisha K. Staggers (@AishaStaggers) March 6, 2021
“This is cultural appropriation,” she added.
‘Black Is Not A Costume’
She wasn’t done.
“Black is not a costume, I don’t get to be white when I don’t feel like not dealing with racism or racist police or just regular bulls— Black people deal with.” Staggers continued.
Black is not a costume, I don’t get to be white when I don’t feel like not dealing with racism or racist police or just regular bullshit Black people deal with. I can’t even hide at home because I can be killed there in my bed, so understand, there was nothing silly about this.
— Aisha K. Staggers (@AishaStaggers) March 6, 2021
Staggers added, “I can’t even hide at home because I can be killed there in my bed, so understand, there was nothing silly about this.”
Twitter user RevMaryDandee wrote, “Chris Cuomo just said to Don Lemon OUT LOUD on Wolf Blitzer’s CNN, ‘You know I’m Black on the inside,’ and we had to turn off the television because I’m not here for that nonsense.”
Chris Cuomo just said to Don Lemon OUT LOUD on Wolf Blitzer’s CNN, “You know I’m Black on the inside,” and we had to turn off the television because I’m not here for that nonsense. @CNN needs to have some sensitivity training with their on-air personalities.
— RevMaryDande🏳️🌈 (@SisterMaryDande) March 6, 2021
Another person asked, “Are the Cuomo brothers competing for S—-iest Cuomo rn?” she added.
“Conscious Christian Conservative” Nicole Pinkston gave the CNN host a big eye roll.
“Cuomo: I’m not Fredo, that’s racist” she wrote, adding, “Also Cuomo: I’m Black on the inside.”
Cuomo: I’m not Fredo, that’s racist.
Also Cuomo: I’m Black on the inside. pic.twitter.com/GeUvDycQTQ
— Nicole Pinkston (@MRSpinkston85) March 7, 2021
Pinkston’s comments were a reference to Cuomo insisting in 2019 that calling Italian Americans “Fredo” – particularly himself – was similar to using the N-word to insult black Americans.
Former President Donald Trump and his supporters had taken to referring to the younger Cuomo as “Fredo” after the character in The Godfather.
Here is a humorous video of that incident (warning: language):
BREAKING NEWS‼️
CNN Host Chris Cuomo got into altercation & threatened a man who called him “Fredo”@ChrisCuomo said calling someone the name Fredo from the movie Godfather is the same as calling someone the N-Word.
CRAZY COMPARISON!
What Will CNN DO About this ? pic.twitter.com/UQJAc0urcm
— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) August 13, 2019
Another commenter wrote in response to a post about the Cuomo-Lemon exchange, “It’s his way of trying to pretend he’s not the spoiled, entitled overrated dips*** that he is.”
It’s his way of trying to pretend he’s not the spoiled, entitled overrated dipshit that he is.🤮
— jfyfe (@jfyfe) March 7, 2021
Another user added, “Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon trying to recite Good Times lyrics reminds me of Chappelle’s I know black people skit.”
Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon trying to recite Good Times lyrics reminds me of Chappelle’s I know black people skit.
— Steve Heinrich (@INeedaDR) March 6, 2021
For those not familiar with the 2004 Dave Chappelle skit:
Randomly remembered the “I Know Black People” sketch for Chappelle Show but particularly how funny the Ronald Reagan question was pic.twitter.com/9ZXLt1B5M1
— Zito (@_Zeets) May 24, 2020
Megyn Kelly Notes Don Lemon’s Hypocrisy
Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly also made a great point when she wrote, “Weird how Don Lemon, who sees racism everywhere if a Republican is involved, gives his buddy a total pass on this.”
Weird how Don Lemon, who sees racism everywhere if a Republican is involved, gives his buddy a total pass on this. https://t.co/6D2HjYnCm3
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) March 7, 2021
Both these men see racism at every turn and would be denouncing any conservative hosts who had a similar exchange.
I’m not holding my breath waiting for Cuomo to be held accountable.
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