The people with knowledge of the situation said CNN boss Jeff Zucker had felt serious heat from infuriated talent, including Jake Tapper, over the last 24 hours and acted to yank Cuomo off the air while the review is carried out.

Another CNN insider told The Daily Beast that Cuomo had become incredibly unpopular among network staffers and fellow hosts. “I don’t know anyone who likes him,” the insider added.

“He was surviving because it didn’t make Zucker look bad. Now it is,” a senior journalist who used to work for Zucker told The Daily Beast.

Another source familiar with the matter, while expressing shock that CNN and Zucker actually punished Cuomo, remained skeptical that the host would face any long-term repercussions.