The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences revoked former New York governor Andrew Cuomo's International Emmy Award on Tuesday.
"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," a spokesman told the Washington Free Beacon. "His name and any reference to his receiving the award will be eliminated from International Academy materials going forward."
Cuomo was awarded the International Emmy Founders Award in November for his performance during coronavirus press conferences. The Free Beacon initially asked whether Cuomo would maintain his award on Aug. 11, immediately after Cuomo said he would vacate office in 14 days. The Academy did not respond until Tuesday morning, announcing that the prestigious award was revoked.
Cuomo formally resigned at 12:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning after an investigation by the New York attorney general concluded he sexually harassed at least 11 women. The FBI is also investigating whether his office deliberately misled the public by hiding how many elderly people died due to COVID-19 in the state's nursing homes.
When he initially received the award, Academy president and CEO Bruce Paisner celebrated Cuomo as "a symbol of the determination to fight back." He celebrated the governor's ability to turn the pandemic briefings into "television shows, with characters, plot lines, and stories of success and failure."
Cuomo becomes the second Emmy recipient in recent years to have the honor stripped. Actor Kevin Spacey, who was also given the International Emmy Founders Award in 2017, had the award revoked after more than a dozen men accused him of sexual misconduct, which included instances of sexual assault and one attempted rape.
In his farewell address, Cuomo called the investigation into his conduct "unfair and unjust." He has defended his conduct by citing his Italian-American heritage.