is out at the cable news network a little over two months after apologizing to viewers for on-air comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, CNN announced Monday
B次元官网网址淐NN and Don have parted ways,B次元官网网址� CNN chair and CEO Chris Licht said in a memo to staff that was also posted on the account. B次元官网网址淒on 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.B次元官网网址�
CNN did not provide a public explanation for LemonB次元官网网址檚 departure. But on the B次元官网网址淐NN This MorningB次元官网网址� co-hostB次元官网网址檚 own Twitter account, Lemon contended the news came as a surprise to him and characterized it as a firing. He had appeared on his show that morning.
B次元官网网址淚 was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned,B次元官网网址� he wrote in a statement posted shortly after 12 p.m. Eastern. B次元官网网址淎fter 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.B次元官网网址�
Around 45 minutes later, CNN issued a rebuttal on its PR account: B次元官网网址淒on LemonB次元官网网址檚 statement about this morningB次元官网网址檚 events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.B次元官网网址�
LemonB次元官网网址檚 ouster came the same day that Fox B次元官网网址 announced it was abruptly parting ways with its most popular host,
In mid-February, Lemon when, during a discussion on B次元官网网址淐NN This MorningB次元官网网址� with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins about the ages of politicians, he said that the 51-year-old Haley was not B次元官网网址渋n her prime.B次元官网网址� A woman, he said, was considered in her prime B次元官网网址渋n her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s.B次元官网网址�
Harlow challenged Lemon, trying to clarify what he was referencing: B次元官网网址淚 think we need to qualify. Are you talking about prime for childbearing or are you talking about prime for being president?B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 shoot the messenger, IB次元官网网址檓 just saying what the facts are,B次元官网网址� Lemon responded. He brought up the subject again an hour later, and was rebutted by commentator Audie Cornish.
Lemon issued a statement the same day saying he regretted his B次元官网网址渋nartful and irrelevantB次元官网网址� comments. He was subsequently absent from the show for three days, with a tweeted apology but no mention of the episode on air.
Licht told staffers in a memo at the time that Lemon would but did not specify what that would entail. Licht added that it was important to him that the network B次元官网网址渂alances accountability with B次元官网网址� fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes.B次元官网网址�
Lemon used to host the prime-time B次元官网网址淒on Lemon TonightB次元官网网址� but moved to the mornings when the network just before the U.S. midterm elections, as one of the first major programming moves under Licht. But the show hasnB次元官网网址檛 had the intended ratings effect, and amid downturn in viewership across the board.
Haley, who had criticized LemonB次元官网网址檚 statements as sexist and used the incident to fundraise in February, took to Twitter on Monday to call LemonB次元官网网址檚 ouster B次元官网网址渁 great day for women everywhere,B次元官网网址� linking to the beverage sleeves emblazoned with B次元官网网址淧ast my prime? Hold my beer.B次元官网网址�
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Associated Press Writer Meg Kinnard contributed reporting from Columbia, South Carolina.
David Bauder, The Associated Press
