CNN Chairman Chris Licht has slammed Don Lemon for making “disturbing, unacceptable and unfair” comments during Thursday’s This Morning show.
Lemon, 56, made several “sexist” comments while discussing GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s suggestion that politicians aged 75 and older should be subjected to mental competency tests.
He then took time off on Friday following backlash, which saw him clashed with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins over claims Haley was “past her prime”.
Lemon, who is based in Miami, joined the editors’ call on Friday as pressure mounted on CNN to fire the “clearly sexist” star.
Chairman Chris Licht said Lemon made “disturbing, unacceptable and unfair” comments during Thursday’s This Morning show
Lemon, who is five years older than Haley, 51, said the politician should approach the issue cautiously because “a woman is in her prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe in her 40s.”
“His comments were disturbing, unacceptable and unfair to his co-hosts and ultimately a huge distraction from the great work this organization is doing,” he said, according to the New York Times.
During the call, Lemon said, “I’m sorry, I don’t want to hurt anyone. I didn’t want to offend anyone.
“What I said came out wrong and I wish I hadn’t said it. I believe that women of any age can do anything they put their minds to. The people I’m closest to in this organization are women.
“If I make a mistake. I own it and I own this one too. I understand why you are upset and disappointed.
“I was trying to point out that nobody’s age should determine their ambition or potential for success, and I made those comments to Nikki Haley. I will continue to be who I am.”
Lemon also cited his relationships with Dana Bash, Erin Burnett, Amy Entelis and his mother and sister, according to TMZ.
Insiders told that Lemon was “rude, self-righteous and clearly sexist,” adding that “his apology meant nothing.”
Kaitlan Collins (right) opened the show by saying her co-host “has the day off” as Lemon was replaced by Audie Cornish (left) for the day, with the show reflecting on the comments he made the day before had not recognized
His comments caused a stir when a senior CNN official contradicted, “That’s great, but it’s our viewers who deserve an apology.”
CNN staffers reportedly called Lemon “tone deaf” after the call, with one saying it looked like he was patting himself on the back for admitting his mistake.
An insider said the pressure to fire Lemon had mounted following his constant gaffes on the early morning show.
They told : “Don has been walking on thin ice for so long and many wanted him fired in December when he freaked out on Kaitlin Collins for no reason. She was in tears and it was so inappropriate.
“Regardless of his political affiliation, his comments that Nikki Haley was past her prime were disgusting. Poppy was angry as she should be and still is.
“He’s rude, self-righteous and clearly sexist. Nikki did the right thing by calling him out.
“His apology meant nothing and there is so much pressure that he is canned. It would be a shock if he wasn’t.”
Kaitlan Collins opened the show on Friday by saying her controversial co-host “has the day off” as Poppy Harlow joked she would “complain to the bosses” after becoming All-Star NBA game in Utah.
Lemon was replaced by Audie Cornish for the day as the show avoided acknowledging the comments he had made the previous day, despite increasing calls for pressuring him out.
Insiders told that Lemon was “rude, self-righteous and clearly sexist,” adding that “his apology meant nothing.”
Lemon used to have his own show – Don Lemon Tonight – before Licht canceled it and created the new morning show.
CNN boss Licht previously promised to redesign the company since its acquisition last year, but that seems to have had little effect.
Poppy Harlow joked that she would “complain to the bosses” after attending the All-Star NBA game in Utah
Collins was also quick to sing the praises of Cornish, her co-host for a day, by posting a picture of them together on her Instagram
There have been a number of changes at the network, with CNN This Morning executive producer Eric Hall being fired tonight and given a new role at CNN.
When his 10 p.m. show, Don Lemon Tonight, was canceled last year due to poor ratings, Lemon initially said the move to the morning show wasn’t a “downgrade.”
CNN didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from , but the moderators did point out that Lemon would be absent from Thursday’s show.
They said: “A special pleasure. Audie will be joining us tomorrow, Don will be leaving, Poppy will be on errand and anchor from Salt Lake City.”
However, the announcement came two hours after he first commented during a 6:30 segment of the show — with Lemon laughing and Audie saying, “That’s a hot spot, I hope you can handle it.”
Collins was also quick to sing the praises of Cornish, her co-host for a day, by posting a picture of them together on her Instagram.
Harlow, Lemon and Collins had discussed Haley’s proposal during a speech Wednesday announcing her candidacy for president.
Lemon, who is five years older than Haley, 51, said the politician should approach the issue cautiously because “a woman is in her prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe in her 40s.”
Lemon, 56, went “ballistic” towards staffers who highlighted the argument with Collins, according to RadarOnline – with the presenter claiming she “interrupted” him during a broadcast in December.
Harlow took a “well-timed” bathroom break and was followed into the bathroom by Kaitlan Collins – with the source adding that the strained relationship “has been smoldering for months”.
Haley herself responded to Lemon’s comments, saying in a tweet with a clip of the video segment, “It’s always the liberals who are the most sexist.”
Apologizing for his comments on Thursday’s show, Lemon tweeted: “The reference I made this morning to a woman’s ‘Prime’ was clumsy and irrelevant as colleagues and family have pointed out and I regret it.
“A woman’s age doesn’t define her personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.”
An angry Harlow is said to have stormed off the set after Thursday’s “sexist” exchange, sources told the New York Post.
Harlow took a “well-timed” bathroom break and was followed into the bathroom by Kaitlan Collins – with the source adding that the strained relationship “has been smoldering for months”.
During Thursday’s show, Lemon began his comments by saying that discussing the merits of age in politics was “the wrong path,” and then quickly went down that path.
‘She says, guys, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley is not in her prime,” he said.
“Sorry if a woman is in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s in her prime.”
Lemon made his comments on Thursday’s episode of CNN This Morning alongside co-hosts Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow
The CNN This Morning host allegedly made Kaitlan Collins run off the set in tears on December 8 after berating her in front of the TV crew and her other co-host
Harlow interrupted Lemon and asked, “What are you talking about? Prime for what?’ before Lemon pressed hard and insisted, ‘That’s not my opinion.’
Lemon plowed on: “It depends. It’s just like, prime. if you look it up If you google “what is a woman in her prime” it says “20s, 30s, 40s”.
“I’m not saying I agree with that. So, I think she has to be careful when she says that politicians are in their prime.
Harlow then asked, “Are you speaking of Prime for, eh, birth? Or are you talking about becoming President?’
“Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just stating the facts,” Lemon replied. ‘Google it. Everyone home, when is a woman in her prime? It says 20s, 30s and 40s.”
“All I’m saying is Nikki Haley should be careful when she says politics isn’t in its prime and they need to be in their prime when they serve.
“She wouldn’t be in her prime according to Google or whatever.”
Throughout the interaction, Lemon directed all of his comments to Harlow while Collins stayed out of the fight.
Later during the show, when CNN podcast host Audie Cornish – who replaced him today – came along and challenged Lemon’s point of view, he refused to back down.
Cornish said: “The idea of Prime, which you google on the internet, it’s about sexual and reproductive Prime, it’s not really about mental health and aging.
Lemon used to have his own show Don Lemon Tonight before Licht canceled it and created the new morning show
After reports of falling out with Collins, he traveled to Beverly Hills with his partner Tim Malone for the Grammys
“Nobody’s going to look at Nikki Haley and say, ‘Is she in her prime or not?'”
Lemon replied, “Eh, I don’t know.”
Collins had her own encounter with her fellow host, who repeatedly interrupted her on camera throughout the December 8 show.
Lemon is said to have made Collins run off the set in tears after he verbally abused her in front of the TV crew and her other co-host.
Afterward, he was reportedly told by boss Chris Licht to take a day to “cool off,” but instead blasted employees after a company newsletter ran a story about his altercation with the White House correspondent.
It appears he received the same advice following his “sexism spat”, with his whereabouts barely explained as of Friday morning.
According to RadarOnline, Lemon got “ballistic” at staffers who highlighted the argument with Collins – with the presenter claiming she “interrupted” him during a broadcast in December.
After the initial argument, Lemon traveled to Beverly Hills with his partner Tim Malone for the Grammys.
Traveling from New York to Los Angeles for the Grammys, the couple appeared to be soaking up the sun in the Golden State – ignoring the drama unfolding at home.
Collins, 30, the youngest chief White House correspondent in CNN’s history, reportedly wants to be on set with the host “as little as possible” after the incident.
Collins, 30, the youngest CNN White House correspondent, reportedly wanted to be on set with the host “as little as possible” after the incident. Pictured: Lemon with co-stars Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins at an NBA game
The argument took place off-camera on Dec. 8, leaving Collins “visibly upset” and other staffers “shaken” by his outburst.
Both Collins and Lemon are both represented by Agent Jay Sures, with her colleague Poppy Harlow witnessing the initial heated exchange.
Collins and Lemon have acted alongside each other on the show since the show began three months ago.
The couple, along with Harlow, used to come to red carpets and events as a unit, but now they appear to be arriving separately and appear to want to stay far apart.
While it’s unclear if Collins intentionally interrupted Lemon, a source called him “domineering” and “difficult to work with.”
A CNN representative declined to comment on the incident, but said, “In just three months, these anchors have created a compelling morning show that breaks news and drives conversation.”
Since the December incident, Lemon has been sent to Memphis and other assignments, while Collins worked from Washington DC several times in January.
Lemon’s explosion in December isn’t the first wrong move he’s made as he adjusts to sharing the limelight with his new peers.
A week earlier, he was gunned down by Collins and Harlow after they accused him of explaining why the US men’s soccer team should be paid more despite their lack of success.
He insisted he was joking when he said men were “more interesting to look at” – with the interaction making for awkward viewing.
CNN This Morning has suffered a ratings bomb and earlier last month experienced its least watched week since launch, averaging just over 330,000 viewers.