HarperCollins pulls Chris Cuomo's upcoming book amid scandals
The former CNN anchor reportedly hired a lawyer after being fired
Chris Cuomo's star continues to fall in the wake of his termination at CNN. Publishing house HarperCollins announced Tuesday it will no longer publish a planned book by Cuomo, who also ended his SiriusXM radio show this week.
The book, which was scheduled for a 2022 release, was titled "Deep Denial."
The publishing house described it as "a provocative analysis of the harsh truths that the pandemic and Trump years have exposed about America – about our strength and our character – and a road map of the work needed to make our ideals match reality."
On Tuesday, a HarperCollins spokesperson said, "We do not intend to publish the Cuomo book."
CNN made the decision to fire Cuomo on Saturday amid an inquiry into the anchor's actions while offering aid to his brother Andrew Cuomo when as New York governor he was battled a sexual harassment scandal that eventually forced his resignation.
The network was also notified of an allegation of sexual misconduct against Chris Cuomo that is being brought by a junior colleague from a past network job.
During a virtual meeting with CNN employees on Tuesday, network President Jeff Zucker said he wished that Cuomo had opted to take a leave of absence after his conversations with the governor's aides had first been revealed in the spring. The network had evidently given him that option, which the anchor declined.
Zucker also confirmed that CNN does not plan to pay Cuomo any type of severance or in any other way fulfill financially the remaining compensation on his contract. It is being reported that Cuomo intends to sue CNN and possibly others for financial settlements pertaining to his termination. He has reportedly hired Bryan Freedman, a well-known Hollywood lawyer who represented Megyn Kelly when she won a $30 million settlement following an abrupt termination by NBC News.