Previously unseen text messages have revealed how CNN, on behalf of its parent company Warner Bros., lobbied former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to reopen theaters during the COVID-19 pandemic. The messages, sent in September 2020 from CNN’s chief marketing officer at the time, Allison Gollust, to Cuomo, requested a meeting between Cuomo and Warner Bros.’ CEO, Ann Sarnoff. These messages highlight the close relationship between the Cuomos, CNN executives, and Warner Bros. at the time. Gollust, who had previously worked as a communications director for Andrew Cuomo, later revealed that she was having an affair with CNN’s boss, Jeff Zucker. These ties played a role in connecting Sarnoff and Cuomo during a time when movie studios were suffering financial losses due to closed theaters.
The timing of this text message revelation is significant, as it comes shortly after CNN CEO Chris Licht was ousted by Warner Bros. Discovery’s current CEO, David Zaslav. Licht’s removal followed a critical profile of him in The Atlantic, in which he participated, that exposed his shortcomings. The messages also come amidst a $125 million lawsuit brought against CNN by host Chris Cuomo, who claims he was wrongly fired in December 2021 for allegedly coaching his brother, Andrew Cuomo, on managing sexual misconduct allegations.
Chris Cuomo’s termination came after allegations that he used his position to downplay the impact of the sexual misconduct claims against his brother. CNN and Chris Cuomo will soon enter arbitration over his termination claim. These text messages may be used by Cuomo’s legal team to argue that his ties to his brother were not personal but rather perpetuated by CNN as a whole.
For Warner Bros., reopening theaters was crucial at the time. The pandemic had forced many states to close entertainment venues, resulting in a significant loss of box office revenue. Warner Bros. experienced a sharp decline in revenue, with their North American box office earnings dropping from over $1.5 billion in 2019 to just over $200 million in 2020. Additionally, the restrictions on theaters caused complications for the release of Christopher Nolan’s film, Tenet.
In October 2020, Andrew Cuomo announced that theaters outside of New York City could begin reopening. This move, along with CNN’s lobbying, played a role in opening up the state from lockdown restrictions. It is important to note that while CNN was advocating for theater restrictions to remain in place for public health reasons, they were also pushing for theaters to reopen to benefit Warner Bros.
The controversy surrounding these text messages led to the resignation of Allison Gollust from her position at CNN. Her departure came after an internal investigation into alleged inappropriate relationships following Chris Cuomo’s firing in December. The investigation concluded that Gollust, Jeff Zucker, and Chris Cuomo had violated company policies.
Following Gollust’s resignation, Chris Cuomo demanded answers from CNN and Warner regarding his dismissal. He claimed that his assistance to his brother was known and supported by the network’s highest executives. Chris Cuomo’s downfall occurred when the New York Attorney General’s Office released transcripts and exhibits showing his involvement in his brother’s political affairs, including briefing his brother’s advisers on how to handle sexual misconduct allegations. Andrew Cuomo ultimately resigned in August 2021 in response to allegations of sexual harassment.
CNN, in announcing Chris Cuomo’s suspension in December, stated that the Attorney General’s findings shed new light on his involvement in his brother’s defense. Chris Cuomo has since filed a lawsuit against the network, asserting that CNN executives were aware of and supported his actions.
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