The Untold Truth Of Andrew Cuomo's Daughters
This article mentions allegations of sexual harassment.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo became somewhat of a hero among men during the coronavirus pandemic that took hold of headlines — and the world — in 2020 and beyond. While most of the American public was bound by shelter-in-place orders, many turned to the television and other virtual methods to keep up to date with the news, and that's where many of them found the New York governor.
Though his star rose — even leading to a fan base and speculation of a potential future run for presidency – it quickly crashed and burned when Cuomo was accused of sexual harassment by several former staff members. The allegations, along with a report from the New York State Attorney General, led Cuomo to put in his resignation from his post on August 10, per ABC News.
Despite all this, Cuomo has found at least some sort of support system in his children, though it remains to be seen if these allegations will tarnish his relationship with his kids. Nevertheless some of his political prowess was passed down to his three daughters, so let's get to know them.
Politics and activism run in the Cuomo family's blood
Mariah, Cara, and Michaela Cuomo are the three daughters of Andrew Cuomo and his ex-wife, author, and activist Kerry Kennedy. This link to the Kennedys means that not only are the Cuomos somewhat of a powerhouse family, but they're also related to the late President John F. Kennedy. JFK was, in fact, the daughters' great-uncle.
The amount of politics (and money) in their blood can definitely be seen throughout the turns their lives have taken. All three attended Ivy League universities, according to the Oprah Magazine, with Cara going to Harvard, her twin Mariah going to Brown, and Michaela following in Mariah's footsteps with a degree from the same Rhode Island university.
The three of them pursued their interests in politics and advocacy in college and beyond. Michaela is often involved in the It's On Us campaign and worked with Joe Biden for the sexual assault awareness cause. Cara took a different route — her work has led her to places like Rwanda and Malaysia, where she does humanitarian work as an associate for the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights nonprofit. Mariah has supported the same nonprofit and is now an associate at a successful global CEO consulting firm.
Michaela Cuomo is demisexual
Despite the ways in which the three Cuomo daughters take after their father (where politics are concerned), at least one of them is forging her own path. In June 2021, Michaela Cuomo celebrated Pride Month by coming out as queer on Instagram. "Today, I stand in my queer identity with pride, and in memory of those who came before me," she wrote, including links to resources like The Trevor Project. One month later, Andrew Cuomo's youngest daughter clarified her sexuality identity further during an Instagram Live with activist Donato Tramuto (via Today).
Explaining that she actually identifies as "demisexual," Michaela opened up about her fear of being a lesbian in elementary school. "When I was in middle school, I came out to my family and close friends as bisexual. When I was in high school, I discovered pansexuality and thought, 'That's the flag for me,'" she said, adding that since recently learning about demisexuality, it's "the identity resonates with me the most" (via Today). Per GLAAD, demisexuality is used to "describe a person who does not experience attraction to an individual until a significant emotional bond has formed." As Michaela talked about in the Instagram Live, she therefore needs to emotionally bond with someone before feeling sexual attraction. While it seems to have been quite the journey for her, her family is behind her every step of the way.
What do Andrew Cuomo's daughters think of his sexual harassment scandal?
Given the Cuomo girls' humanitarian work — and particularly, Michaela Cuomo's efforts to raise awareness around sexual assault cases — their father's scandal has probably come as quite the shock. The investigation by the New York Attorney General's office found Andrew Cuomo to be guilty of sexually harassing multiple women, CNN reported on August 3. Per the outlet, the investigation revealed that "Cuomo engaged in unwelcome and nonconsensual touching and made comments of a suggestive sexual nature," ultimately creating "a hostile work environment for women." Faced with pressure to resign, Cuomo stepped down from his post as New York governor on August 10 — and his first thought was for his three daughters.
"I want them to know, from the bottom of my heart: I never did, and I never would, intentionally disrespect a woman or treat a woman differently than I would want them treated," he said, according to CNBC. "Your dad made mistakes. And he apologized. And he learned from it. And that's what life is all about," he added. Though Mariah, Cara, and Michaela Cuomo have yet to issue statements on the matter, the girls all share a close relationship with their father that makes it seem like they'll continue to support him, scandal notwithstanding.