Host Chris Cuomo and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo are being slammed for their lighthearted jokes during a discussion on coronavirus test...
Host Chris Cuomo and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo are being slammed for their lighthearted jokes during a discussion on coronavirus testing on CNN last night.
During Wednesday’s episode of Cuomo Prime Time the governor recounted how he was tested for coronavirus on live TV during his daily press briefing on Sunday, leading his brother to joke he had a big nose and required a baseball bat-sized nasal swab for a test.
But not all viewers were laughing over the brotherly banter.
The View host Meghan McCain led the criticism on Twitter saying: 'I’m not sure I’m going to ever be able to buy a crib or baby clothes for my first child in a store, Most of my friends are jobless, petrified and dealing w depression & @JaniceDean lost both her mother and father in law to COVID within a week of each other.'
'This is HILARIOUS guys,' she added sarcastically.
New York has surpassed two months in lockdown and still reports the largest number of COVID-19 cases in the country with over 356,000 cases and more than 23,000 deaths.
CNN host Chris Cuomo and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo are being slammed for their lighthearted jokes on coronavirus testing during Wednesday's episode of Cuomo Prime Time. On the episode Chris joked about the size of Andrew's nose by bringing out a baseball bat-sized nasal swab, saying that's what the governor needed to use to get tested for coronavirus
The View host Meghan McCain led the criticism against the duo's segment saying: 'Most of my friends are jobless, petrified and dealing w depression...This is HILARIOUS guys'
'Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean also blasted the brothers saying: ‘Aww. @NYGovCuomo is auditioning for a new comedy show with @ChrisCuomo on @Cnn. Of course the Gov didn’t address the thousands of deaths from COVID-19 in nursing homes in New York. (Roughly 20 percent of all deaths in our state). Enjoy the giant swab!'
Other conservatives joined in the criticism of the duo for their jokes.
'Instead of asking his brother, @NYGovCuomo why he decided to pack COVID patients into nursing homes, killing untold amounts of people, @ChrisCuomo pulled out oversized, prop cotton swabs to mock how big his brother's nose was. This is the state of "journalism" on @CNN. Pathetic!'
However, some Twitter users came to the Cuomos' defense noting that Gov. Cuomo holds a press conference every day on the coronavirus crisis and numbers in hard-hit New York. 'Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean also blasted the brothers saying: ‘Aww. @NYGovCuomo is auditioning for a new comedy show with @ChrisCuomo on @Cnn. Of course the Gov didn’t address the thousands of deaths from COVID-19 in nursing homes in New York. (Roughly 20 percent of all deaths in our state). Enjoy the giant swab!'
Some Twitter users defended the brothers saying: 'There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of comedy relief. Lighten up'
'So, these two take the 90K dead very seriously as do the rest of us. They also know that they (and we) also have to have a laugh because otherwise this country will end up in a state of depression. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of comedy relief. Lighten up,' one Twitter user said.
'This was the best! I literally laughed out loud and we need those moments of hilarity in these times,' another viewer added.
'Yes! Some good humor for the incredible and massive work being done there in NY. A million hats off to #govenorcuomo and his Team,' one Twitter user wrote.
In Wednesday episode the CNN host joked that the governor needed a massive nasal swab to enter his nose.
'First of all, is it true that when you are having the test administered, you inhaled and the doctor's finger went all the way up your nose and got stuck and had to be released with a tool?' Chris asked with a straight face.
The governor couldn’t help but crack a smile and said, 'No, actually she wanted to comment that I have a little button nose and she was afraid the swab would actually hurt because it extended my nasal cavity.'
Chris Cuomo jokingly procured several massive nasal swabs joking that the governor's nose required a much bigger swab
On Sunday the governor received a coronavirus nasal swab test on live TV to calm the public over concerns that the test is painful
'She was speaking about the delicacy of my nose.'
During the Wednesday show, the CNN host then pulled out a coronavirus testing swab and explained how it was the standard size put up a patient's nose to swipe inside.
Then he pulled out a mock cotton swab the size of a baseball bat.
'So then, in scale, this was the actual swab that was being used to fit up that double-barrel shotgun that you have mounted on the front of your pretty face?' Chris said.
'See I said I was going to be nice and sweet…Very funny,' the Governor said cracking up.
'I thought I did so well on that nasal test. Standing up there, she did the swab, I did not flinch. I was a cool dude in a loose mood,' Cuomo said.
'Of course you were! That swab was like a piece of lint going in that thing on your face. How could it have collected anything? It was like throwing a rock around a cave!' the reporter said.
'That is so not right. This is not love,' the governor said jokingly.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo pictured sitting down at dinner with his family on April 19 in the midst of coronavirus lockdowns
Chris Cuomo was diagnosed with COVID-19 with late March and announced he was coronavirus free by late April. Pictured above with wife Christina and kids Bella (top right), Carolina and Mario
At the end of the show Chris tried to thank his brother for being a good sport about his jokes.
'Thank you for coming on, thank you for having a good sense of humor about what is a very important public service message. A lot of people aren't getting tested because they're worried about it. Thank you for showing people how easy it is to get tested,' he said.
'That was not -- that was beyond -- don't call me, I'll call you,' Andrew said in response.
The brothers have cracked their fair share of jokes on the CNN show when discussing the coronavirus pandemic.
Chris himself was diagnosed with COVID-19 with late March and announced he was coronavirus free by late April.
The CNN host held his show from the basement of his home as he was stricken with the virus.
Cuomo is not the only one in his family who contracted the virus. His wife, Cristina, tested positive for the virus and his 14-year-old son Mario.
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