Chris Cuomo apologizes after backlash over pronoun identification exchange with Kamala Harris
CNN anchor Chris Cuomo apologized after facing a backlash over an exchange he had about gender pronouns with Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., during the CNN Equality Town Hall on Thursday.
As Harris walked on stage for the discussion about LGBTQ rights and equality, she greeted Cuomo and thanked the audience.
She then immediately presented her preferred gender pronouns, or the set of pronouns an individual uses to describe themselves.
"Thank you, guys. And my pronouns are she, her, and hers," Harris said to the audience.
"She, her, and hers?" Cuomo asked. "Mine too."
"Alright," Harris flatly responded.
Cuomo's comments were met with backlash. LGBTQ advocacy organization GLAAD called it "so disappointing" for Cuomo to "mock" Harris.
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The response led to Cuomo's apology.
"When Sen. Harris said her pronouns were she her and her's, I said mine too. I should not have. I apologize. I am an ally of the LGBTQ community, and I am sorry because I am committed to helping us achieve equality," Cuomo wrote on Twitter. "Thank you for watching our townhall."
Traditional pronoun usage can often present issues for transgender or gender nonconforming people, who might prefer a different pronoun than the one others initially use to describe them. Harris is one of several Democratic presidential candidates who include their preferred pronouns in their Twitter account biographies.
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PLEASE READ: When Sen. Harris said her pronouns were she her and her's, I said mine too. I should not have. I apologize. I am an ally of the LGBTQ community, and I am sorry because I am committed to helping us achieve equality. Thank you for watching our townhall.
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) October 11, 2019
Kamala Harris declared her pronouns on such a major stage and she should be applauded but instead it was so disappointing for Chris Cuomo to mock it in that moment. #EqualityTownHall #PowerOfOurPride
— GLAAD (@glaad) October 11, 2019
Zach Ford of the Alliance for Justice said Cuomo "[ruined] this important moment."
As soon as she is introduced, @KamalaHarris immediately shares her pronouns. Then @ChrisCuomo promptly ruins the important moment. #EqualityTownHall pic.twitter.com/GqjVXBwmfx
— Zack Ford (@ZackFord) October 11, 2019
The National Center for Lesbian Rights tweeted at Cuomo to say "people's pronouns are not a punchline."
Dear @ChrisCuomo, people’s pronouns are not a punchline. In a year where LGBTQ Americans are finally being recognized on the national Presidential stage, making jokes about gender pronouns is beneath your dignity. Please do better in the future. #EqualityTownHall
— National Center for Lesbian Rights (@NCLRights) October 11, 2019
There is a producer at CNN somewhere saying “I didn’t think I needed to tell him not to do that" https://t.co/GPXU2wwGwf
— Ben Dreyfuss (@bendreyfuss) October 11, 2019
There couldn’t possibly be a worse forum for him to make this extremely stupid joke https://t.co/cQf1ExuutE
— Laura Bassett (@LEBassett) October 11, 2019
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: CNN anchor Chris Cuomo apologizes after backlash over gender pronouns
