Disgraced CNN anchor Chris Cuomo revealed that he drinks “too much” but insisted he’s not “an alcoholic” during a frank discussion about mental health on an episode of his podcast Thursday.
Cuomo, who starts a new gig at NewsNation on Oct. 3 after he was fired by CNN last year, admitted that he often turns to alcohol as a coping mechanism.
“Too often, I think, we avoid dealing with things. So here’s a little bit of my story. I take my body and — my diet can suck. I drink too much,” Cuomo said. “I’m thinking about that, mostly in terms of why I drink too much. I’m probably what people in the sobriety community would call a ‘normie’ but a hard drinker.”
“I drink often and I definitely think it’s not always for the right reason,” Cuomo continued. “I think it’s to settle my mind. I think it’s to deal with emotions.”
“I’m not saying I’m an alcoholic,” Cuomo added. “I don’t believe in abusing those terms, but it’s something I’ve had to think about, and it’s something that I am thinking about and it’s something that I’m dealing with because my mental health has become an increasing aspect of my self-concern about how I can be my best. I really believe that, you know, where your head is, is where your life goes.”
The anchor said he discussed his personal experience because he wanted to “de-stigmatize” the topic.
Cuomo was canned following revelations that he had secretly assisted in crafting the PR response for his brother, disgraced ex-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, as he faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
The anchor was CNN’s top-rated primetime host prior to his firing. He is currently embroiled in a heated legal battle with the cable network and has demanded $125 million in damages — alleging his old company “has a long-established pattern and practice of selectively enforcing its policies based on cynical calculations of public perception.”
CNN declined to comment after the lawsuit was filed.
The TV personality, who is married with three kids, revealed his plan to join NewsNation during an appearance on the upstart network in July. He will anchor the 8 p.m. time slot.
“I’m going to come to NewsNation and I want to build something special here,” Cuomo said at the time.
As The Post reported last month, Cuomo’s arrival has ruffled many feathers at NewsNation — with angry staffers lamenting the fact that they are being asked to promote his new show.
Meanwhile, Cuomo’s podcast, “The Chris Cuomo Project,” has plummeted in the rankings since its debut in July.
Mediaite was first to report on Cuomo’s remarks.