CNN Announces It Is “Parting Ways” With Out News Anchor Don Lemon

Shortly after the news broke that Fox News had fired longtime talking head Tucker Carlson, the news world was shocked again as CNN announced it is “parting ways” with out news anchor Don Lemon. “CNN and Don have parted ways,” the network said in a statement on Monday. “Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.” https://twitter.com/MSNBC/status/1650547103523909635 That announcement, though, came after Lemon’s Monday morning shift on “CNN This Morning” where he’s been a co-host for about six months. Three hours after he signed off, Lemon issued a scathing statement on Twitter aimed at his employer. He wrote:

“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would had the decency to tell me directly.

“At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network. It’s clear that there are some larger issues at play.

With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run. They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best.”

CNN countered that statement on Twitter saying Lemon was given an opportunity to meet with management but chose to tweet his own statement. https://twitter.com/donlemon/status/1650533617636966400 https://twitter.com/CNNPR/status/1650545115897769985 More from the New York Times:

Inside the network, he began to lose support after he made remarks in February about women and aging that were widely perceived to be sexist. The incident generated a national uproar and a rare public rebuke from CNN’s chairman, Chris Licht.

Mr. Lemon had asserted on-air that Nikki Haley, the 51-year-old Republican presidential candidate, “isn’t in her prime, sorry,” adding, “A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”

He dismissed the objections of his female co-hosts by responding, “I’m just saying what the facts are — Google it.” He later apologized to the CNN newsroom and agreed to a corporate training program to address his on-air behavior.

according to the NYT this interview that Don Lemon conducted last week with Vivek Ramaswamy played a role in his firing. Note co-host Poppy Harlow sitting silently while Lemon goes after Vivek. pic.twitter.com/Fjx5eX30wU

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 24, 2023