CNN anchor Chris Cuomo has taken to Twitter to post a photo of his bicep.
(Picture: Getty Images for SiriusXM)CNN anchor Chris Cuomo tried to hit back at a Twitter user who jabbed him online - by posting a close-up photo of his bicep in response.
For some context, the Twitter drama all began when Cuomo shared a reporting from Seaside, Florida, covering the city’s condo building collapse. All was well until Peter M. Pietrowski replied and called Cuomo a “Fredo,” a term with negative undertones toward Italian-Americans.
I’m not a fan of Fredo. However, that was an excellent report.
— Peter M. Pietrowski (@PietrowskiPeter) June 28, 2021
For those unaware, “Fredo” is an insult referring to Frederico Corleone from The Godfather (the “weakest” Corleone brother), and therefore used to to denote a member of a group as incompetent or fragile. The term also especially offends Chris Cuomo.
So when Peter M. Pietrowski - whose Twitter bio identifies him as a Christian, Conservative, two-time vet having served in Vietnam and Afghanistan and retired US Customs and Border Protection Anti-terrorism Team Supervisor - used the slur, Cuomo was displeased and tweeted the following.
I am a fan of all who call themselves 'christian first' then act like trash. https://t.co/sakolO2zEa
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) June 28, 2021
@StanYeahMan then responded with some kind words, which Cuomo then quote-tweeted.
Appreciated. We all know what we would want if we had missing loved ones. Crisis has no hue of red or blue. Or at least it shouldnt. The #SurfsideCollapse community was warm and embracing of need. Impressive and respected https://t.co/eIIWgeS6fd
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) June 28, 2021
However one user, who goes by “uncle ruckus,” then responded to that tweet telling Cuomo he’s “gonna break your arm jerking yourself off.”
Enter: The bicep selfie.
That how this happened?! Hahahaha. Come on, baby, dont hate - facilitate. You can do better than this petty bs. https://t.co/pN84VyzDdz pic.twitter.com/0R5H7LSggV
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) June 28, 2021
Twitter is understandably confused by Cuomo’s response — both by his decision to acknowledge such a silly comment in the first place, but also his choice to bring the bicep into it.
This is the weirdest response I’ve seen in awhile.
— Beth Baumann (@eb454) June 28, 2021
You choose weird things to respond to...
— Chistina Anne (@LACGFY) June 28, 2021
"no, sir, i wont break my arm jerking myself off. just look at this muscle"
— tsar becket adams (@BecketAdams) June 28, 2021
None of this has stopped Cuomo from playing along. In fact, it seems to have emboldened him (and his bicep).
So are you weird by your own definition :)? https://t.co/hyjMdm2SVB
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) June 28, 2021
Impossible given the sus outlets listed in bio. Or is it now abt redefining "weird" as they are trying with jan 6? Pfff https://t.co/OviSxdgcek
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) June 28, 2021
Yes. Only for bearded, malcontent, middle-aged white men who still dig the jets. Know any? #letsgetafterit https://t.co/ViEkXRVCcJ
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) June 28, 2021
We don’t really understand what’s going on , but we’re glad to see Cuomo is… having fun?
In 2019, a man approached Cuomo, calling him a “Fredo” and chaos ensued (you can watch a video of the altercation here):
“Punk-ass bitches from the right call me Fredo,” Cuomo said. “My name is Chris Cuomo. I’m an anchor on CNN. Fredo is from The Godfather. He was a weak brother. And they’re using it as an Italian aspersion.”
“It’s an insult to your f***ing people. It’s like the n-word for us,” he continued, adding that he would “throw you down these stairs like a f***ing punk.”
