Fired CNN host Chris Cuomo stepping away from Sirius XM show

Former CNN host Chris Cuomo says he will no longer do his Sirius XM radio show as he grapples with his firing from the cable news network over his efforts to help his brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, fight accusations of sexual harassment.

Mr. Cuomo said the way his time ended at CNN “was hard.”

“While I have a thick skin, I also have a family, for whom the past week has been extraordinarily difficult,” he said in a statement posted to Twitter. “So, right now, I have to take a step back and focus on what comes next. That means I will no longer be doing my Sirius XM radio show.”

CNN suspended and then fired Mr. Cuomo last week after a state prosecutor’s report disclosed more embarrassing details about how much he helped his brother, the Democratic former governor.

The network, which has been criticized for failing to take action against Mr. Cuomo earlier this year, said the documents released by New York’s attorney general last Monday “point to a greater level of involvement” in his brother’s defense than CNN officials knew.

Mr. Cuomo told Sirius XM listeners that he is “extremely grateful” for their support.

“I will miss our conversations a great deal — but I look forward to being back in touch with you all in the future,” Mr. Cuomo said.

The former host also is preparing to sue CNN if the network doesn’t pay him at least $18 million for the remainder of his contract, The New York Post reported.

Citing sources, the newspaper reported that Mr. Cuomo, 51, has hired lawyers to fight over the compensation from the four-year contract that he signed last year.

CNN reportedly was paying Mr. Cuomo $6 million a year, making the remainder of the contract worth between $18 million and $20 million.

Mr. Cuomo could also sue for damages.

CNN has “no intention of paying [Chris] Cuomo a penny,” a source told the newspaper. “If he gets a settlement, there would be uproar.”

• Dave Boyer and S.A. Miller contributed to this report.