Andrew Cuomo Stripped of International Emmy He Won for COVID-19 Briefings, Due to AG Report

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been stripped of his international Emmy award following a report that said he sexually harassed multiple women.

The International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences said Tuesday it was rescinding the prize, which Cuomo won for his daily briefings on the coronavirus crisis last year.

"The International Academy announced today that in light of the New York Attorney General's report, and Andrew Cuomo's subsequent resignation as Governor, it is rescinding his special 2020 International Emmy Award," the group's statement read. "His name and any reference to his receiving the award will be eliminated from International Academy materials going forward."

Cuomo officially stepped down as governor Monday, about three weeks after New York Attorney General Letitia James released a report finding he sexually harassed 11 women—many of whom were current or former state employees.

The report also detailed a "toxic" work environment cultivated by Cuomo and his senior staff. Cuomo strenuously denied the investigation's findings.

The Democrat maintained his innocence in a pretaped farewell message, saying on Monday he was the victim of "a political and media stampede."

When he announced Cuomo would be the recipient of the 2020 Founders Award, the academy's president and CEO, Bruce Paisner, praised Cuomo's 111 consecutive briefings for being "television shows, with characters, plotlines and stories of success."

"People around the world tuned in to find out what was going on, and 'New York tough' became a symbol of the determination to fight back," Paisner said at the time.

When accepting the award, Cuomo celebrated the academy for bringing "smiles and hope and relief for so many people during these difficult days."

"I wish I could say that my daily COVID presentations are well choreographed, scripted, rehearsed or reflected any of the talents you advance. They didn't," he said in a pretaped speech. "They offered only one thing: authentic truth and stability. But sometimes that's enough."

Cuomo left the governor's office on Monday with a record-low approval rating, plummeting 16 points after the attorney general's report was released. A Morning Consult poll from early August found just 38 percent of New Yorkers approved of his job performance.

On Tuesday, Kathy Hochul was sworn in as the 57th governor of New York. Hochul, who had served as lieutenant governor since 2015, said it was an "emotional moment" but one that she is prepared for.

"I want people to believe in their government again," she told reporters Tuesday when asked what she wants to accomplish during her tenure. "It's important to me that people have faith. Our strength comes from the faith and the confidence of the people who put us in these offices, and I take that very seriously."