Netizens didn't lose any time mocking the governor on social media.
Cuomo and Fauci or Pacino and De Niro?
In a video clip from the press conference, Cuomo can be seen telling Fauci about the importance of educating people about the prevention of small spreads of COVID-19. While discussing the COVID-19 vaccine, Cuomo praised Fauci for having a "tremendous credibility" across the U.S.
Cuomo also noted that hearing Fauci declare the vaccine as safe for use would help encourage more people to take it. He added that once the vaccine is deemed "ready and safe," Cuomo himself would be the first to get vaccinated.
Cuomo added that he might even enlist Fauci to "do an ad telling New Yorkers it's safe to take the vaccine." He liked the idea so much that he even called himself and Fauci "the modern-day [Robert] De Niro and [Al] Pacino."
The suggestion made Fauci laugh and when Cuomo asked him if he wanted to be De Niro or Pacino, the doctor remained diplomatic, claiming he didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. Since Fauci didn't choose, Cuomo praised him for acting like a true politician.
As the press conference continued, Cuomo thanked Fauci for being "a rock" that helped stabilize the nation.
Try Beavis and Butthead
Netizens who got wind of the unusual comparison had a lot to say, with Twitter user @weimrnr claiming that the pair were more like "Beavis and Butt-Head."
https://twitter.com/weimrnr/status/1336036248419512320
Others likened the pair to the bumbling main characters of the movie "Dumb and Dumber" or the Sesame Street muppets Bert and Ernie.
Even journalist Matt Binder chimed in. He asked if the governor was comparing himself and New York cases to "the total number of people dead at the hands of Pacino and De Niro's characters in their respective movies combined."
As of writing, a total of 27,215 people have died from COVID-19 across New York state while over 700,000 have tested positive.
The silly exchange also angered other Netizens, with user @WomanInSTEM_ calling the pair "mafia guys" on her account.
https://twitter.com/WomanInSTEM_/status/1336005224650203140
In August 2019, CNN host Chris Cuomo, the governor's brother, got into an altercation with a man who called him Fredo. In "The Godfather" books and movies, the character Fredo Corleone was considered a weakling compared to his brother Michael Corleone, a crime boss.
The CNN host even compared being called Fredo to being called the N-word, a move that was criticized by netizens as being tactless and racist.
"Masterful" COVID-19 press conferences?
In November, Cuomo was awarded an Emmy for his "masterful" pandemic press conferences.
The move was questioned by many, with some saying that it was ironic since New York had the most severe infection rates. Others also suggest that Cuomo didn't deserve the award because of questionable decisions, like sending thousands of COVID-19 patients back into nursing homes. (Related: Cuomo receives Emmy for best actor in Covid-19 performance, proving it’s all theater.)
At the press conference, Fauci warned that January could be "a really dark time" for America. On the same day, Cuomo announced that he would close indoor dining in New York City if hospitalizations didn't slow down as they reached 1,400, which is more than double compared to mid-November.
While the city-wide test positivity rate in New York City is four percent, it varies between boroughs. In Manhattan, it is 2.56 percent but on Staten Island, it is 6.3 percent. Statewide, the rate is at 4.79 percent.
On Cuomo's official website, he stressed the importance of observing "safe behaviors" because of the increasing number of coronavirus cases in New York and throughout the nation. He also called on citizens to do everything they can to help hospitals prepare to handle a "growing number of patients."
Cuomo added that the state has already enforced various measures to help prevent hospitals from becoming overwhelmed, along with a directive to expand capacity by 25 percent.
"The good news is New York still maintains one of the nation's lowest infection rates, but everyone must do their part to slow the spread of the virus and stop the uptick in hospitalizations. If we work together and stay New York Tough, we can manage this pandemic until the vaccine is here," concluded Cuomo.
Visit Pandemic.news for more updates on the COVID-19 pandemic in New York and across America.
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