Governor Cuomo: "You know, my frustration is younger people. College kids coming back to college, they all want to have a party, they all want to drink. Younger people at protests, they're not wearing their masks, they think they're invincible. So, for months the great challenge is how to get to young people. I call up Paul Rudd, and I'm a big fan of Paul Rudd, I had met him at an event. I call him up and I said, "you know can you do a PSA, a video, that really gets to young people?" And he's respectful, he's listening to me, "yeah, yeah, yeah I can do that." I said, "you know you're funny. I think humor might do it," because I've tried everything. I've begged, I've pleaded, I've threatened. I don't know what else to say. So, Paul Rudd says, "yeah, I can do it.""
Cuomo: "Paul Rudd says on the video, "the Governor said I was 26. I didn't correct him." But look, he is a masterful performer and it is funny as heck, but it's also powerful. It's gotten 9 million views in like 24 hours and that's the audience we have to talk to; we have to talk to young people."
Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo revealed how the Paul Rudd video urging young people to wear masks came to be during an interview on Long Island News Radio with Jay Oliver.
AUDIO is available here.
A rush transcript of the Governor's interview is available below:
Jay Oliver: Okay, well if the people are listening, your people are listening, you heard the man. Now, I have to ask you this. So, you know we were talking about the masks and everything else, and I guess I was flipping through the internet and I get Paul Rudd. You did a really good job there. You released a new video with Rudd. It's part of that mask campaign. I know you got some other celebs on board, but I got to tell you, very effective. Well done, sir.
Governor Cuomo: How funny is this? You know, my frustration is younger people. College kids coming back to college, they all want to have a party, they all want to drink. Younger people at protests, they're not wearing their masks, they think they're invincible. So, for months the great challenge is how to get to young people. I call up Paul Rudd, and I'm a big fan of Paul Rudd, I had met him at an event. I call him up and I said, "you know can you do a PSA, a video, that really gets to young people?" And he's respectful, he's listening to me, "yeah, yeah, yeah I can do that." I said, "you know you're funny. I think humor might do it," because I've tried everything. I've begged, I've pleaded, I've threatened. I don't know what else to say. So, Paul Rudd says, "yeah, I can do it." And then he does that video that says, "Governor Cuomo called me up and asked me if I can do a message to Millennials. I'm 51 years old." I didn't know he was 51 years old. You know, he looks like a kid, doesn't he, Paul Rudd?
Jay Oliver: He goes back a long way that guy.
Governor Cuomo: Paul Rudd says on the video, "the Governor said I was 26. I didn't correct him." But look, he is a masterful performer and it is funny as heck, but it's also powerful. It's gotten 9 million views in like 24 hours and that's the audience we have to talk to; we have to talk to young people. You know, my daughters 25, 25, 22, they know all the answers they just don't know all the questions. That's the target audience for this masks, social distancing, et cetera.
Jay Oliver: Listen, I showed it to my kids, they're Millennials, and they were impressed. So maybe, you know what, if it changes minds and puts that thought process in place I think we'll all be better off. Listen, an absolute pleasure to have you as always. I look forward to the next time, sir, how's that?
Contact the Governor's Press Office
Contact us by phone:
New York City: (212) 681 - 4640