Chris Cuomo and his brother Andrew Cuomo joined forces to honor the memory of their late father, the former governor of New York. Mario Cuomo , in the new documentary "Mario".
Both siblings remain in the public eye, particularly due to Chris's criticism of Donald Trump and Andrew's political activities following his unsuccessful run for mayor of New York City.
The couple has also faced public scrutiny in recent years after Andrew was accused of sexual harassment and Chris was allegedly accused of participating in strategy meetings where he gave him advice.
Chris Cuomo and his brother Andrew honor Mario Cuomo in Tribeca.
These days, it's rare to see the Cuomo brothers in the headlines without the looming shadow of political or media scandal. But that's exactly what they did at the 2026 Tribeca Festival, where they gathered to honor their late father, Mario Cuomo.
In the new documentary "Mario," Chris and Andrew, along with their siblings, play a key role in telling the story of their father, who was not only a political giant but also skillfully balanced other aspects of his life, including family.
The documentary sheds light on his decision not to run for president, despite being one of the most popular politicians in the Democratic Party.
The feature-length documentary, directed by acclaimed filmmakers Peter, George, and Teddy Kunhardt, also explores his compassionate leadership style and what he could have achieved for the country had he decided to run.
Inside Mario Cuomo's Political Legacy
Mario, born in 1932 to Italian immigrants, was a prominent American politician and lawyer who served three terms as the 52nd Governor of New York from 1983 to 1995. He was widely recognized for his eloquent defense of modern liberalism and famously turned down multiple opportunities to run for the U.S. presidency.
In his keynote speech at the 1984 Democratic National Convention, he criticized the policies and achievements of President Ronald Reagan, declaring, "There is despair in the faces you don't see and the places you don't visit in your shining city," CBS News reports.
He was the first Italian-American to hold office and died in 2015 at age 82, on the same day his son Andrew was sworn in for a second term as governor of New York.
Andrew Cuomo reflects on his father's legacy.
Speaking to Brut at the festival, Andrew described the experience as "bittersweet," saying he missed his father and stressed the importance of celebrating his legacy and contributions to American politics.
«"It's a mixed bag. I miss him every day. But it's important for people to understand who he was. To understand that politics doesn't have to be the way it is today," he said. "We're better than this. Our politics can be better. And that's what Mario Cuomo is all about," he added.
Chris Cuomo's departure from CNN: new details
Meanwhile, Andrew and Chris have endured turbulent years in the public eye, rife with controversy. In 2021, CNN fired Chris for his assistance to Andrew when the former governor faced sexual harassment allegations.
The network hired a "respected law firm" to investigate the extent of Chris's involvement in his brother's defense and ultimately fired him after finding evidence to support his concerns.
At the time, the news anchor said he was disappointed and that he "didn't want my time at CNN to end this way.".
CNN said that while it "understands [Chris Cuomo's] unique position and recognizes his need to put family first and work second," the advice he gave his brother constituted a violation of journalistic ethics.
Documents released by New York Attorney General Letitia James showed that Chris continued to pressure members of the then-governor's staff to be allowed to play a more significant role in his brother's defense.
Chris Cuomo spoke about the advice he gave Andrew.
Announcing his resignation at the time, Andrew spoke of "bias or lack of fairness in the justice system," but also apologized "deeply, very deeply" to his accusers, who he said were likely "genuinely offended.".
Chris later denied reports that he had participated in his brother's strategy meetings, saying he had never been his advisor but had given personal advice.
«"I said outright that I can't be objective when it comes to my family... And when [the scandal] happened, I tried to support my brother. I'm not an adviser. I'm a brother; I didn't control anything. I was there to listen and express my point of view," he said, as reported by The Guardian.
«"And my advice to my brother was simple and unwavering: tell people what you'll do to become a better person, repent, and finally accept that it doesn't matter what your intentions were. What matters is how your actions and words were received," he continued.
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