Chris Cuomo reacts to backlash over 'sexist' tweet on rape survivor's support of NRA: 'I am a gun owner'
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo has been taking a lot of heat on Twitter after apparently criticizing a rape survivor-turned-gun owner who’s become a spokesperson for the National Rifle Association (NRA).
Cuomo expressed his opinion on Wednesday morning by retweeting a message from NRATV that contained a quote from Kimberly Corban, who became a Second Amendment advocate after surviving a violent rape in 2006 at age 20. Corban stood up for her decision to protect herself by carrying a gun.
The quote read, “I'm a mother of two, and if a predator or anyone else tries to harm me or my family, they have to come through my firearm first.” Cuomo chimed in on Twitter, writing, “Only in America.”
Only in America https://t.co/rPfsxGU8Gh
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) May 29, 2019
The journalist did not elaborate on the comment, but many on Twitter — including several high-profile political commentators — were quick to interpret Cuomo’s words as mockery, both of Corban’s story and of the right to bear arms for self-defense.
GOP consultant Seth Weathers called Cuomo’s tweet “repulsive” and turned the tables on the frequent Trump critic. “This is repulsive. Image [sic] what you would say on your show tonight if President Trump had tweeted what you did?”
WTF would you dump on a rape victim, @ChrisCuomo?
This is repulsive.
Image what you would say on your show tonight if President Trump had tweeted what you did?— SETH WEATHERS (@sethweathers) May 29, 2019
Sports radio veteran and podcast host Tony Bruno asked Cuomo outright if he meant to criticize a woman’s right to carry a weapon for self-defense.
you good with women not defending themselves Chris?
— Tony Bruno (@TonyBrunoShow) May 29, 2019
And United States Army Reserves Officer Montgomery Granger sent a simple tweet that didn’t address Cuomo’s comment directly, but expressed support for Corban and the right to bear arms.
Thank God. #A2 <><
— Montgomery Granger (@mjgranger1) May 30, 2019
Eventually, Corban herself chimed in, asking Cuomo if he’d “care to chat” about her point of view. “Looks like you forgot to tag me,” she quipped.
Hi @ChrisCuomo. Looks like you forgot to tag me. Care to chat about this?
— Kimberly Corban (@Kimberly_Corban) May 29, 2019
One Twitter user asked Cuomo why he’s “responding to everyone except for Kim Corban.” Cuomo tried to convince the man that his words were being misconstrued.
Why are you responding to everyone except for Kim Corban? https://t.co/6BydstkPke
— Jerry Dunleavy (@JerryDunleavy) May 29, 2019
Fox News meteorologist Janice Dean stood in solidarity with all women who are victims of sexual assault, and insisted Cuomo demystify what he meant — so he explained that “only in America” was intended to reference the fact that the U.S. is “still debating the legitimate right to protect oneself” versus a “sensible way to keep guns from the wrong people.”
1/2 You are right. No offense intended. Too short on twitter. “Only in America” are we still debating the legitimate right to protect oneself like you and many others vs sensible way to keep guns from wrong people. Only here can we not address the issues around school shootings https://t.co/74s8RxcHgo
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) May 29, 2019
2/2 in a way that respects the ill and also people who get guns legally (as I did) and use responsibly (as I). We are stuck with good people having to beg to keep a right and not getting done what is right for federal reasonable restrictions and mental health reform https://t.co/74s8RxcHgo
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) May 29, 2019
He later addressed Dean again, tweeting that he was sorry if his words “misled” her. “I take the issue and the stories of violence seriously,” he tweeted before apologizing.
I am sorry for confusion. I take the issue and the stories of violence seriously. Muscles don’t stop bullets, as you know. Again, I have always been clear about the right to own and what needs to be improved. Apologize if you were misled. https://t.co/74s8RxcHgo
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) May 29, 2019
Cuomo then went on to insist he had already apologized “for this negative attention that was not intended.”
Of course I apologized for this negative attention that was not intended. You asked a question and I answered. That’s what should happen. This place and sadly this issue brings out the worst in too many. No need. Not helpful. https://t.co/4igqSG8dTL
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) May 29, 2019
Earlier, The View co-host Meghan McCain challenged Cuomo to answer to why “so many men in the media” don’t take the views of conservative women seriously. Cuomo responded that McCain had his “intentions wrong,” and that gun laws should not be an “all or nothing” debate.
Read what I tweeted. You have my intentions wrong. A survivor story and the right to bear arms is not where we are stuck...We can’t get past this deadlock on all or none to make reasonable changes to help reduce deadly violence. Happy to talk if you have more questions https://t.co/y0VIsW4VYC
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) May 29, 2019
The pile-on continued, with others calling Cuomo’s tweet “sexist” and telling the anchor he has “no shame.” “How is life in the high castle,” one wrote, apparently referencing Cuomo’s white male privilege.
Cuomo admitted that he himself is a gun owner, “thus I see a legit right to bear and that is clear in law,” he tweeted. “Why pretend I am some heartless hater?”
You know I didn’t mean that. I am a gun owner. Thus I see a legit right to bear and that is clear in law. Why pretend I am some heartless hater? I expanded what I said and there is no reason to twist it here. I know that’s what Twitter is but it solves nothing https://t.co/px17cI5Qvr
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) May 29, 2019
Cuomo has been a vocal advocate of gun control laws, supporting universal background checks and opposing privacy laws for gun owners.
Corban filmed a commercial for the NRA in which she described her attack in 2006 by a stranger who held her hostage in her apartment and raped her for two hours while she was attending college.
“At 20 years old, I had to lay there thinking about how I was going to die,” she said, adding that the the carry and conceal law “isn’t for everyone. It definitely wasn’t for me up until a few years ago.”
At the end of the video, she challenges former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, who launched a $50 million gun control initiative in 2014 and supports the Everytown for Gun Safety initiative.
“Mr. Bloomberg, you do not have the right to tell me how to defend myself,“ she says. “If my right to self-protection is taken away, that leaves me very, very vulnerable, and feeling very scared once again. I know how best to defend myself.”
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
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NRA president says Rep. Lucy McBath was elected because she's 'a minority female'
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