New York Governor Andrew Cuomo will receive an Emmy for his daily televised briefings on the state’s status on COVID-19.
On Friday, the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the decision to give Cuomo an Emmy, stating “leadership” during the pandemic and “his masterful use of television to inform and calm people around the world.”
“The governor’s 111 daily briefings worked so well because he effectively created television shows, with characters, plot lines, and stories of success and failure,” the president and CEO of the International Academy, Bruce Paisner, said in the statement.
“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.”
The award is given to people who “crosses cultural boundaries to touch our common humanity.”
Past winners include former Vice President Al Gore, Oprah Winfrey, and director Steven Spielberg.
Cuomo is flattered by the award and will accept on behalf of the state citizens, Yahoo News reports.
Cuomo kept the public informed with his honest daily briefings on the pandemic. His approval ratings spiked—77%. But his handling of nursing homes has caused a decline.
Rep. Lauren Boebert, a congresswoman-elect for Colorado’s 3rd congressional district, tweeted on Friday: “Giving Andrew Cuomo an Emmy is the equivalent of giving Hannibal Lecter the Nobel Peace Prize.”
