Earlier today we shared that Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson both reportedly lawyering up with the same powerhouse attorney after being terminated from CNN and Fox News, respectively. Since, it has been learned that the 51-year-old Emmy Award-winning host is fighting for an owed $25 million from CNN.
RELATED: CNN Terminates Don Lemon After 17 Years
On Monday (April 24), we learned that Don Lemon and CNN had parted ways. Lemon took to his Twitter account and made the big reveal. He shared that his agent told him on Monday morning that the network had terminated him.
He said, “I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN, I would have thought that someone in management would have 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 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.”
RELATED: CNN Claims Don Lemon’s Statement About His ‘Abrupt’ Termination Was ‘Inaccurate’
Following Lemon’s statement, CNN CEO Chris Licht shared a memo to his staff that said, “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. CNN This Morning has been on the air for nearly six months, and we are committed to its success.”
Some time after Lemon’s initial statement went viral — where he essentially claims he was blindsided with his firing — a public relations spokesperson for CNN tweeted out from the CNN Communications Twitter account, claiming Lemon was offered the chance to speak with his managers about the decision.
They wrote, “Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
UPDATE: Don Lemon Fighting For $25 Million Owed On CNN Contract After Lawyering Up With Powerhouse Attorney
Since Lemon’s firing, on Tuesday morning (April 25), it was reported that he and axed Fox news anchor Tucker Carlson both hired the same powerhouse attorney to go after their former bosses.
In Lemon’s case, Business Insider reported that former CNN chief media correspondent Brian Stelter claimed that the two hosts were lawyering up and retaining the services of Los Angeles entertainment attorney Bryan Freedman.
Supporting the report, The New York Times also claimed Lemon had hired Freedman — the famed attorney who previously worked to help former host Megyn Kelly secure about $30 million from NBC News after she left the network back in 2019.
Another one of Freedman’s clients includes former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo — who was fired back in December 2021 for advising his brother, then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, about his sexual harassment scandals. Cuomo retained Freedman for his ongoing wrongful termination lawsuit against the network, where he is seeking a whopping $125 million.
Following the initial report of Lemon lawyering up with Freedman, it was next learned that the former host is reportedly seeking at least $25 million owed on his CNN contract. Sources told Page Six that Lemon signed a high $7 million-a-year contract with CNN back in September 2022, which runs up until 2026.
With the help of Freedman, Lemon looks to secure his exit and figure out whether or not he is entitled to a bigger settlement.
RELATED: CNN’s Don Lemon Is Accused Of Displaying Misogyny & ‘Diva-Like Behavior’ For 15 Years
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