In a shocking Monday announcement, Don Lemon shared that he’s been terminated by CNN after 17 years with the network.
In a statement that was shared on his social media accounts, Lemon revealed he was “stunned” by the decision. He also expressed frustration with the manner in which he says the news was delivered to him but still offered positive words to the other staff and journalists of CNN. His full statement read,
“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned,” he tweeted in a fiery post. “After 17 years at CNN, I would have thought that someone in management would have 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 is 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.”
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) April 24, 2023
Confirming the unexpected big news, CNN CEO Chris Licht said in a memo to network staffers: “CNN and Don Lemon have parted ways. Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years,” he wrote. “We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”
As many Don Lemmon fans know, this has been a tumultuous year for the anchor as well as the network which has been under siege by financial losses and leadership changes. The news of Lemon’s termination also comes on the heels of him being accused of misogyny along with claims that his behavior toward female colleagues at the network had been “inappropriate.”
RELATED: CNN’s Don Lemon Is Accused Of Displaying Misogyny & ‘Diva-Like Behavior’ For 15 Years
February 2023: Don Lemon Said Nikki Haley Wasn’t ‘In Her prime’
As we previously reported, during an on-air discussion, with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins about Haley’s presidential campaign announcement, they spoke about her call for “mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old.”
While Lemon noted at the time that the “talk about age” makes him uncomfortable and said her comments were the “wrong road” to go down, he went on to note that, “She says people, politicians are not in their prime…Nikki Haley is not in her prime, sorry. A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s, and maybe her 40s.”
As co-host Harlow asked him to clarify what he meant by “prime,” Lemon responded: “If you Google, ‘when is a woman in her prime,’ it’ll say the 20s, 30s, and 40s. … I’m not saying I agree with that so I think she has to be careful about saying that (politicians aren’t in their prime).”
Following the online backlash, Lemon was noticeably absent from the show the next day. However, before going back on the air, he tweeted out an apology: “I appreciate the opportunity to be back on @CNNThisMorning today. To my network, my colleagues, and our incredible audience — I’m sorry. I’ve heard you, I’m learning from you, and I’m committed to doing better. See you soon.”
Reactions To Don Lemon’s Termination
While many people are just as shocked by the news, Donald Trump is celebrating. “Good News: “The dumbest man on television,’ Don Lemon, has finally been fired from Fake News CNN. My only question is, WHAT TOOK THEM SO LONG?” Trump posted on Truth Social.
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RELATED: Don Lemon Bids An Emotional Farewell To His CNN Primetime Show: ‘I Hope I Made You Proud’