CNN anchor Don Lemon has hit out at the network after his firing, which came after accusations of misogyny and misbehaviour.
Lemon, who
co-hosted CNN's morning show, This Morning, took to social media to share his
disbelief, stating, "I am stunned," after being informed by his agent
about his dismissal.
CNN
confirmed Lemon's departure, stating that they had "parted ways and
wishing him well.''
The
dismissal comes in the wake of on-air remarks made by Lemon regarding
Republican Nikki Haley, where he stated that she was not "in her
prime." This led to widespread criticism, with the remark being widely
condemned as sexist.
The firing
of Lemon comes at a time when another major US media figure, Tucker Carlson of
Fox News, also announced his departure from the network. Lemon, a long-time
fixture of CNN, was most recently co-hosting This Morning, but the show will
now continue with his former co-hosts, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, as
stated by the network.
Harlow and
Collins paid tribute to Lemon during their Tuesday morning segment, with
Collins recalling how Lemon was one of the first anchors on CNN to have her on
his show, and Harlow expressing her gratitude for having worked alongside Lemon
for nearly 15 years, calling him "one of my first friends here at
CNN."
Lemon's
departure from CNN comes after he landed in hot water earlier this year for his
comments about Nikki Haley, which were deemed sexist. He issued a statement on
the same day, expressing regret for his "inartful and irrelevant"
comments and apologizing to the newsroom. However, the remarks sparked
widespread criticism, including from actress Michelle Yeoh, who appeared to
reference the comments in her Oscars acceptance speech, empowering women not to
be defined by age.
But the
controversy around Lemon didn't stop there. A report from Variety in April
detailed accusations of misogynistic behavior toward his CNN colleagues,
including calling a producer fat to her face, mocking and mimicking a
colleague, and allegedly sending threatening texts to another. Lemon's
representative denied the reports, but his reputation was further tarnished.
Lemon's past
comments on the US men's soccer team and his recent firing have stirred up more
controversy. He had previously stated that the men's team should be paid more
than the women's, claiming that the men were "more interesting to
watch." These incidents have raised questions about his behavior and
professionalism.
Lemon, who
had been with CNN for 17 years, expressed disappointment on Twitter, stating
that he had not been directly informed by management about his dismissal and
that he had never been given any indication that he would not be able to
continue his work at the network. He also hinted at "larger issues at
play."
The
57-year-old had appeared on CNN on Monday during the morning programme as
normal before reports of his dismissal were publicised later that day.
CNN issued a
second statement, calling Lemon's description of events "inaccurate"
and stating that he had been given an opportunity to meet with management.
However, Lemon has reportedly hired an entertainment lawyer to address his
contract with CNN, which was supposed to last until 2026, according to sources
familiar with the deal.
Lemon joined
CNN in 2006 after working for a local NBC station in Chicago and hosted the
primetime show Don Lemon Tonight for over eight years.
He left the
slot to help launch CNN This Morning in November 2022, alongside Harlow and
Collins. However, after Lemon's comments about Ms. Haley, CNN producers
discovered guests did not want to appear on the show with Lemon, the New York
Times reported, and the ratings of the show have struggled in recent months.
The show has
struggled with ratings in recent months, lagging behind its competitor, Fox's
Fox & Friends, and MSNBC's Morning Joe.
In a post on
his social media site Truth Social on Monday, former President Donald Trump
referred to Lemon as the "dumbest man on television".
He did not
comment on Tucker Carlson's firing.
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