Cuomosexual
Cuomosexual is a hashtag and identity label created in April 2020 expressing ironic sexual attraction toward New York Governor Andrew Cuomo during the COVID-19 pandemic. The term originated from a Randy Rainbow parody song and quickly became both a viral trend and a target of criticism.
Overview
Cuomosexual was a hashtag expressing tongue-in-cheek romantic or sexual attraction toward New York Governor Andrew Cuomo during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic1. The term played on LGBTQ+ identity language, framing admiration for Cuomo's daily televised pandemic briefings as a mock sexual orientation2.
The hashtag spread primarily on Twitter in April 2020 as Cuomo received significant media praise for his leadership during the crisis3. His calm, informative press conferences stood in contrast to the federal response, leading many Americans to view him favorably. The Cuomosexual label captured this moment of political fandom with characteristic internet irony.
However, the trend also drew substantial criticism. Many Twitter users pushed back against the hashtag by highlighting Cuomo's controversial policy decisions, including cuts to Medicaid during the pandemic and his refusal to implement a rent moratorium3. The term later took on negative connotations after sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo emerged in 20214.