Gov. Andrew Cuomo Andrew CuomoOvernight Health Care: Trump signs largely symbolic pre-existing conditions order amid lawsuit | White House puts off action on surprise medical bills | Rising coronavirus cases spark fears of harsh winter NY health officials to review any vaccine approved by Trump Americans splurging on Halloween candy MORE (D-N.Y.) dropped the N-word during a discussion around discrimination against Italian Americans while quoting a recent New York Times op-ed on a New York radio show Tuesday.



“The Times also said in an article the other day, apropos of nothing, they were talking about it,” Cuomo told WAMC host Alan Chartock in reference to the opinion piece by a Times editorial board member, “How Italians Became White.”

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“Going back to the Italian Americans because now you have me. They used an expression that southern Italians were called quote-unquote, and pardon my language, but I’m just quoting The Times, n----r w--s. N-word wops as a derogatory comment," the governor added.

WAMC is based in the state capitol Albany, N.Y.

Cuomo’s comment comes one day after he announced the state would allocate funds for a statue of Saint Frances Cabrini, an Italian American Roman Catholic nun popular in the community for her work over the years supporting Italian immigrants to the United States.



“As Italian Americans, we must also remember that we ourselves are not immune from attack. The ugliness of Italian American stereotyping is still alive and well. Our battle is not over,” he said ahead of Columbus Day over the weekend.



Cuomo's brother, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo Chris CuomoCNN's Don Lemon: 'Blow up the entire system' remark taken out of context CNN's Lemon: 'We're going to have to blow up the entire system' if Democrats win back White House, Senate Giuliani criticizes NYC leadership: 'They're killing this city' MORE, was at the center of controversy following his confrontation with a man at a Hamptons bar in August who referred to him as “Fredo,” a character from the “Godfather” movies.

The journalist said “Fredo” is “like the N-word to Italians” while threatening to throw the man down the stairs at the establishment “like a f---ing punk.”