Anchor terminated by CNN, after Tucker Carlson exit
Don Lemon says he is been fired from his publish at CNN’s “CNN This Morning,” which he co-anchored with Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow for about six months.
The previous anchor, who was on air Monday morning, shared the news in a statement on Twitter.
“I used to be knowledgeable this morning by my agent that I’ve been terminated by CNN. I’m surprised,” he wrote.
CNN CEO Chris Licht mentioned in a press release that the community needs him nicely and can cheer him on as he pursues future endeavors, echoing what he wrote in an e mail to CNN staffers obtained by USA TODAY.
“To my CNN Colleagues, CNN and Don have parted methods. Don will eternally be part of the CNN household, and we thank him for his contributions over the previous 17 years,” Licht mentioned.
He added, “CNN This Morning has been on the air for practically six months, and we’re dedicated to its success.”
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CNN’s transfer to half with Lemon broke shortly after information Monday of Tucker Carlson’s departure from Fox News.
Why was Don Lemon fired?
Neither Lemon nor CNN provided a cause for the exit Monday.
Lemon expressed frustration with the style by which he says the information was delivered to him.
“After 17 years at CNN I might have thought that somebody in administration would have the decency to inform me immediately,” Lemon added in his tweet. “At no time was I ever given any indication that I might not be capable to proceed to do the work I’ve liked on the community. It’s clear there are some bigger points at play. With that mentioned, I wish to thank my colleagues and the numerous groups I’ve labored with for an unimaginable run. They’re essentially the most gifted journalists within the enterprise, and I want all of them the very best.”
USA TODAY has reached out to Lemon’s agent for remark.
CNN’s communications Twitter account mentioned Lemon’s public assertions about his termination usually are not true.
“Don Lemon’s assertion about this morning’s occasions is inaccurate,” CNN mentioned. “He was provided a possibility to satisfy with administration however as a substitute launched a press release on Twitter.”
Don Lemon information profession at CNN lasted practically twenty years
After greater than eight years as a prime-time host, Lemon on Nov. 1 was moved together with Harlow and Collins to the relaunched “CNN Mornings,” the alternative for “New Day,” as a part of a revamp by Licht. However rankings for the brand new present have been dismal.
Lemon joined the community in September 2006.
Lemon’s offensive commentary on Nikki Haley made headlines
The information of Lemon’s termination comes on the heels of reports of alleged misogyny in a lengthy piece from Variety.
In February, Lemon made headlines for offensive statements about former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, for which he apologized in February.
In an on-air dialogue together with his co-hosts, Lemon said Haley isn’t “in her prime.”
Lemon mentioned Haley’s presidential marketing campaign announcement on air and her name for “necessary psychological competency assessments for politicians over 75 years previous.”
Lemon, 57, instructed co-hosts Harlow and Collins that Haley’s “discuss age” makes him uncomfortable and mentioned her feedback have been the “unsuitable highway” to go down, including that Haley “isn’t in her prime.” Haley is 51.
“She says folks, politicians usually are not of their prime,” he mentioned. “Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry. A girl is taken into account to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and perhaps her 40s.”
He apologized the next week after a break from being on air.
“I admire the chance to be again on @CNNThisMorning at present,” he tweeted shortly earlier than going again on air. “To my community, my colleagues and our unimaginable viewers – I’m sorry. I’ve heard you, I’m studying from you, and I’m dedicated to doing higher. See you quickly.”
Nikki Haley feedback:Don Lemon apologizes again before returning to CNN
Report chronicles allegations of Don Lemon’s disrespect towards former colleagues
Lemon had been accused of constructing different offensive feedback about girls on air previously – and, in line with the Variety report launched this month, inappropriate conduct towards feminine colleagues at community.
The report alleges the anchor has disrespected former colleagues together with Nancy Grace and Soledad O’Brien in quite a lot of public settings, together with on air and in editorial conferences. Selection interviewed greater than a dozen former and present colleagues, lots of whom have been quoted anonymously.
His historical past of controversial feedback:Don Lemon accused of misogyny in new report
The report additionally included particulars on Lemon’s alleged offenses to Kyra Phillips, with whom he co-anchored CNN’s “Reside From” in 2008. Phillips declined to touch upon these allegations to Selection.
A consultant for Lemon instructed USA TODAY on the time that Selection’s story was “riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete proof.” The report “is fully based mostly on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old nameless gossip,” Lemon’s rep added. “It’s wonderful and disappointing that Selection can be so reckless.”
A spokesperson for CNN added that the information community was “unable to corroborate the alleged accounts” contained within the report.
Historical past of Don Lemon’s offensive commentary
His feedback on Haley weren’t the primary time Lemon has been accused of sexist feedback.
- In December, Lemon obtained right into a tiff together with his co-hosts about compensation in soccer. He argued that the U.S. males’s nationwide workforce members ought to be compensated greater than their feminine counterparts, in line with the Daily Beast.
- In September, Lemon drew criticism for asking political commentator S.E. Cupp if she had “mommy mind” after she appeared to lose her practice of thought whereas talking on a panel.
- In 2014, Lemon instructed to actress Joan Tarshis, who alleged Invoice Cosby sexually assaulted her, throughout an interview how she might need prevented being raped.
Contributing: Charles Trepany, Gary Levin, Kelly Lawler, Elise Brisco and Amy Haneline
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