WASHINGTON DC: CNN has announced to part ways with longtime host Don Lemon. The announcement Monday came without explanation from CNN, which astonished the media industry.
In an internal memo to the staff, CNN CEO Chris Licht said that Don would forever be a part of the CNN family, and the network thanks him for his contributions over the last 17 years.
The memo said that CNN wished him well and would cheer him on in future endeavours.
Lemon co-hosted “CNN This Morning” with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. The show had been on the air for almost six months.
Light said that they were committed to the success of the morning show.
In a statement, Lemon lashed out at CNN, stating that the network fired him without prior notice.
Lemon said he was stunned as the management did not have “the decency” to inform him directly of his firing. He noted that at no time was he ever given any signal that he would not be able to continue to do work with the network he loved.
CNN rebutted Lemon’s statement, terming his version of events “inaccurate.”
CNN said in a statement that Lemon was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead he released a statement on Twitter.
Lemon joined CNN in September 2006. Prior to “CNN This Morning,” he hosted the prime-time programme “Don Lemon Tonight” for over eight years. He gained momentous fame during the presidency of former president Donald Trump for his blunt commentary about the Republican president, exposing his lies and calling him a “racist.”
Lemon was widely criticized for sexist comments on his “CNN This Morning” in February. During an on-air conversation about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s proposal that older politicians take competency tests, Lemon argued that the 51-year-old Haley “was not in her prime.”
Lemon said that a woman was only “considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.” Co-anchors Harlow and Collins attempted to push back, but Lemon pressed ahead with his point.
Licht later sent a memo to CNN staff, calling Lemon’s comments “unacceptable.” Licht said he had a “frank” discussion with Lemon, who apologised and was ready to participate in formal training sessions.
“It is important to me that CNN balances accountability with … fostering a culture in which people could own, learn and grow from their mistakes,” Licht said at that time.
Lemon’s termination comes on the heels of his on-air remarks in which he said Republican Nikki Haley, 51, was not “in her prime” as a candidate for the presidency.
