By: Lieba Nesis
Remember when the hashtag “CuomoforPresident” was trending-well no more. The callous Cuomo continues power-grabbing as he abolishes indoor dining despite it accounting for less than 2% of Covid cases. While New York State’s seven day rolling average was 5% positivity, Manhattan has a measly 2.63% cases. The deaths have also been relatively low, with a total of 124 deaths on Monday in the entire State. In March when the virus’s lethality was at its peak, Cuomo forced nursing homes to take recovering Covid patients with 6,326 Covid 19 patients being admitted to nursing homes between March 25 and May 8th. Shame on Cuomo who then blamed the Trump administration for his directive; shifting responsibility to others is the antithesis of leadership. Cuomo assiduously protected his 89-year-old mother, Matilda, from visiting his brother Chris; while exposing tens of thousands of elderly to the deadly virus in April. His unapologetic demeanor was on full display on Monday pronouncing that he was contemplating a complete shutdown-further destroying small businesses.
Cuomo is toxic-a well known music producer tearfully confided in me how traumatizing the experience of working for him was. There must be hundreds who have suffered under Cuomo’s leadership yet only one woman, Lindsey Boylan, was brave enough to call him out for ongoing sexual harassment. Boylan called the governor’s workplace “endlessly dispiriting” and “beyond toxic.” The fear of reprisals from a vindictive Cuomo are undoubtedly preventing others from coming forward-let’s stop this dictator in his tracks. Who can forget his cringeworthy conference in November where he was questioned about school closures and told the Wall Street Journal reporter “let’s try not to be obnoxious and offensive in your tone” with an equally diplomatic follow-up retort of “I don’t really care what you think.” With 35,288 deaths in New York State, the highest fatality rate in the nation, Cuomo should be called to task for his massive failure. Instead in October he penned a book called “American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic.” This book should either be a “how not to behave” in dire situations or in the fiction section along with “Harry Potter” and other out-of-this-world fairy tales-let’s impeach this guy.
-The only thing currently surprising about “shock jock” Howard Stern are his exorbitant paychecks and despicable behavior. The radio show host, who is responsible for singlehandedly making pornography and objectification of women mainstream, is currently facing the heat for his cruel behavior. Stern renewed with SiriusXM in a deal that will net him more than $500 million over five years. Residing with his wife Beth in his Southampton mansion since the pandemic began in March, a watercolor painting of his appears on the cover of this week’s Hamptons glossy “Dan’s Papers” with co-publisher Victoria Schneps remarking he is so talented “he could make millions selling art.” Although I am not an art aficionado his talent seems rudimentary at best-this is just a case of Schneps brown-nosing her celebrity subject.
A disturbing report by the New York Post this past week describes the 66-year-old Stern as a scrooge who failed to assist an employee of 33 years whose wife was dying. The employee, Scott Salem, was seeking a paltry $73,000 to pay for his wife’s non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma treatment which billionaire Stern refused. When Salem’s wife died Stern sent condolences via email instead of an in-office visit and ultimately fired the engineer. Stern is described by employees as a penny-pinching elitist who forces staffers to empty out the hallways before he walks down. Paradoxically, Stern called out Trump supporters as “loony hillbillies” further remarking “the oddity in all of this is the people Trump despises most, love him the most.” The same can be said of Stern whose audience is largely comprised of 35-44 year olds with an income of $100,000-a group he loathes. Shame on this overgrown, overpaid and overexposed fraud.
-Actor Chadwick Boseman, 43, succumbed to colon cancer this past August after choosing to keep his diagnosis a secret. Renowned for his portrayal of King T-Challa in the “Black Panther”, a character that won’t be reprised in “Black Panther 2”, Boseman chose to leave the world in a highly dignified manner. During his four year battle with Stage 3 colon cancer he starred in “Black Panther”, “Da 5 Bloods,” and “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” while undergoing numerous surgeries and chemotherapy. I still remember seeing him in a regal white Versace suit at the Met Costume Institute Gala in May 2018, every inch the elegant movie star. Boseman hid his disease to avert intrusive questions from the press such as: “How are you feeling”? “How is the chemotherapy going?” He didn’t want sympathy. The last four years of his life were nothing short of extraordinary as his career took off along with his status as an unlikely sex symbol. Boseman shielded his privacy so zealously that few knew he had married longtime girlfriend Simone Ledward. Unfortunately, Denzel Washington desperately trying to promote his Netflix film “Ma Rainey’s” with Boseman, revealed that he told Boseman “to put a ring on it.” Boseman and Ledward married months before his death and it is doubtful he would have wanted Denzel to reveal his ambivalence in doing so. Moreover, Denzel’s cheery demeanor in the interview is hardly appropriate for a close friend whose disciple had died way too soon. Washington goes through great lengths to shield his own family from the press; he should have been equally diligent in guarding Boseman’s last wishes-even if he was trying to garner publicity.
-Most of the globe has put on at least 15 pounds during the pandemic and yet we are continually bombarded by images of celebrities losing weight. I wish fat celebrities would stay fat-they are great role models for those who have less than perfect physiques. Moreover, I am of the belief that many, including singer Adele, have had gastric bypass surgery, further making their achievements unattainable. Kelly Osbourne thankfully admitted to gastric sleeve surgery enabling her to lose 85 pounds; but Adele who lost 100 pounds falsely claims it was due to some crazy sounding diet called “sirtfood”-suspicion was aroused when Adele appeared with a dramatically altered face.
Actress Melissa McCarthy and Rebel Wilson ,who have both lost nearly 70 pounds in a year, similarly claim diet and exercise were the key. Today, the ever-voluptuous Lizzo, whose oozy love handles are admired by all, revealed she is participating in a 10-day smoothie detox. Claiming to struggle with body confidence, her 9.5 million Instagram followers were extremely disappointed that she bought into the “diet culture.” Who can forget Lizzo twerking in a thong at the Lakers game in December 2019 to the chagrin of many parents. Lizzo don’t succumb to Hollywood’s ideal body image-you and plus sized model Ashley Graham are the last hope for body representation.
-This week there were a number of goodbyes-first to the historic 21 Club which is closing after 90 years in business and then to Judge Judy who is leaving her daytime show after 25 years-even though it still averages 9 million viewers a week. The 78-year-old Sheindlin will be joining Amazon for the first ever streaming court show. I have never been a fan of the Judge whose repetitive admonishments to pathetic participants left me yawning. I am also predicting we will soon be saying goodbye to the marriage of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West who are leading very separate lives and had enough of each other’s shenanigans. Kardashian continues to appear nearly nude for her 193 million Instagram followers while the religious Kanye hides in his basement after his epic presidential fail.
-Bloomberg is declaring that Palm Beach is becoming the new Hamptons as financiers and their families move to the wealthy destination. The warm weather and low crime rate have provided a refuge for wealthy Manhattanites with 65 new students being enrolled at Palm Beach Day Academy in recent months. The First Lady recently visited Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale as she and Donald set up shop at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. Meanwhile in the actual Hamptons, the ten acre “Linden Estate” owned by Jurgen Friedrich, the co-founder of Esprit, is on sale for $75 million. Located in Southampton Village, the 18,000 square foot main home, was purchased in 1999 for $8.5 million according to The Real Deal. The homeowners are betting on the hot market as the overpriced home is miles from the beach.