‘The Godfather’ Actor on Cuomo’s Rant About ‘Fredo’: ‘His Father Would Smack Him’
EXCERPT:
REPORTER: "You know, this week, 'The Godfather' was in the news."
RUSSO: "I love it. I love it."
REPORTER: "Chris Cuomo, he's saying 'Fredo' is an Italian insult. I want to hear from you, is that an Italian insult, a slur?"
RUSSO: "I can't believe that he would say that. First of all, I know the whole family. And his -- his father would smack him."
REPORTER: "Really?"
RUSSO: "I know his mother. I was just with his mother recently."
REPORTER: "His father would be ashamed of you -- of him if he was saying that?"
RUSSO: "Of course. Why would -- I mean, I don't understand why? First of all it's a classic film. You're talking about a character that was weak."
REPORTER: "I mean, I think that when I -- when I heard I was -- I even said I mean, my friend and I were talking, we're like that word 'Fredo' means weak brother. It doesn't mean anything towards the Italian people."
RUSSO: "I know and I can't understand because he's such an intelligent kid."
REPORTER: "Yeah."
RUSSO: "Educated. I mean, I've heard he's hurt his career."
REPORTER: "You know -- you think he's hurt his career?"
RUSSO: "Oh, yeah. First of all these news guys are so opinionated. He's supposed to report news it's not about what you think. And You're taking Fredo, a character from a classic. It's like spitting at the Mona Lisa. Are you crazy or what?"
