During a Monday COVID-19 briefing, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced several strategies for in New York state to combat the ongoing pandemic. The presser went viral for another reason, however, as Cuomo sparked a Twitter uproar by playing classic Christmas music and declaring that 'COVID is the Grinch.'
During Cuomo's slideshow, an instrumental version of Sleigh Ride began playing, followed by a Grinch cartoon on the screen.
“This is the season of the COVID Grinch,” the governor said, adding "COVID is the Grinch. Think of it that way. And the COVID Grinch is an opportunist and sees this as the season of viral transmission. When you hear that Christmas music, think COVID Grinch and be alert."
Cuomo briefly sang along to the tune, to accentuate his warning that holiday activities and gatherings in public may worsen the spread of coronavirus.
This was enough for Twitter to immediately react to the "festive" briefing by the New York governor. Some netizens ridiculed the odd display and choice of music, indicating that it was inappropriate for the seriousness of the subject.
Cuomo really just played the Sleigh Ride song during a PowerPoint about people gathering for holidays and dying huh
— Danielle (@dmhenning) November 30, 2020
New York governor Cuomo is literally putting a spell on people by telling them to think about COVID “and be on alert” every time they hear Christmas music. Demonic.
— Paige Gaede (@PaigeGaede) November 30, 2020
No way Cuomo just played Christmas music while talking about covid
— levon (@sosalist) November 30, 2020
Cuomo is playing Christmas music I hate it here
— elena ilana alana alina elana (not) (@lenibriscoe) November 30, 2020
WHY DID CUOMO COMPARE COVID TO THE GRINCH WTF SHSSBSBSBBS
— benny / elias ★ (@J0NSIMS) November 30, 2020
Some Twitter users appreciated his attempts to keep things interesting.
My day was meh until Governor Cuomo started singing "Sleigh Ride" in his news conference. I need an encore, definitely. He sounds like:https://t.co/3KVAhUkbmq
— Jane LeRoux (@JaneLeRouxxx) November 30, 2020
Best news briefing yet! Christmas music and everything! https://t.co/qHq2JpXKIz
— Andrew Cuomo & Family Fan Account (@cuomoallthetime) November 30, 2020
That was laugh out loud hilarious. I do love my @NYGovCuomo. Only he would incorporate Christmas music into such a serious briefing.
— Jamie O'Brien (@jamieob256) November 30, 2020
Others were more critical, claiming that Cuomo is a Dr. Seuss character himself.
“How Cuomo Stole Christmas” is clearly the child-friendly follow up to to his first book, “Look How Good I Am at Killing People.”
— 🇺🇸 Hunter S. Tomcat 🇺🇸 (@Hunter_S_Tomcat) November 30, 2020
Cuomo is the real grinch
— 𝙈𝙖𝙘𝙠 ☃️ (@Kelenic2021MVP) November 30, 2020
THIS IS REAL: Cuomo Calls Coronavirus the ‘CoVID Grinch,’ Will Use Christmas for ‘Viral Transmission’ https://t.co/p5lRqAw5mz
— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) November 30, 2020
