CNN hosts Don Lemon and Chris Cuomo told viewers Tuesday night that they aren’t afraid to “throw hands” if confronted by critics of COVID-19 mask mandates.
The “CNN Primetime” anchors got macho while discussing Americans who oppose mask mandates and a story of a woman who was told on the New York City subway to remove hers in defense of freedom.
“I can’t believe in a New York City subway that that guy didn’t get tuned up, by the way,” Mr. Cuomo said regarding the anecdote. “I’m glad he didn’t. I know that wouldn’t have been the best of us. But, I got to tell ya—”
“Oh, he might have if I was on there,” interjected Mr. Lemon. “I’m not kidding.”
Mr. Cuomo then referred to Toby Nwigwe’s song “Try Jesus” as an example of what a mask altercation with the CNN host might look like.
“’I throw hands,’” said Mr. Cuomo, recounting the lyrics.
“I throw hands,” Mr. Lemon echoed. “As I always say, play lotto, don’t play me. I gotta go.”
The media watchdog NewsBusters’ coverage of the broadcast noted Mr. Cuomo’s history of machismo-laced rhetoric.
“CNN Prime Time host Chris ’Fredo’ Cuomo was known for being the network’s faux tough guy; threatening to throw Trump supporters down flights of stairs [in 2019] and glorifying Antifa violence [in 2018],” Nicholas Fondacaro wrote after the broadcast. “What made this whole thing even more ridiculous was that they ended the handoff with Don bloviating about how the duo tries to persuade people with ’love’ and ’grace.’ Last time I checked, you don’t say grace over knuckle sandwiches.”
Just CNN’s Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon laughing and fantasizing about beating up a guy on the subway for not wearing a mask. pic.twitter.com/2OkEVbOJL9
— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) August 18, 2021
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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