Don Lemon is said to have “yelled at” his CNN This Morning co-host after he accused her of interrupting him several times during the show.
Kaitlan Collins, 30, ran off the set in tears on December 8 after the 56-year-old yelled at her in front of the TV crew and her other co-host, Poppy Harlow, sources told the New York Post.
CNN boss Chris Licht, who vowed to overhaul CNN since acquiring the outlet last year and then announced shocking layoffs, was reportedly stunned by the news and told Lemon to take the next day off to “cool off.” “.
“Don yelled at Kaitlan, who was visibly upset and ran out of the studio,” the source told the Post.
CNN This Morning is a ratings bomb, and early last month saw its least watched week since launch, averaging just over 330,000 viewers
Don Lemon allegedly shouted at Kaitlan Collins from the off for interrupting him on Dec. 8, sources say
Collins, 30, reportedly ran off the set in tears after the confrontation. Several production workers saw the incident unfold
The trio of co-hosts were supposed to arrive together for the White House Christmas party the day after the off-air incident, but they went separately and canceled their plans before the party.
After the party, Lemon met with the agent representing him and Collins, while his other two co-hosts met for drinks, the source claimed.
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 arrive separately and seem to want to stay far apart.
“At this point, Kaitlan wants to be on set with Don as little as possible,” a source told the Post. ‘It’s messy.’
To Collins’ benefit, CEO Licht wants the morning show hosts to be more in the field than on set.
Collins, who is also CNN’s White House correspondent, has been spending a lot of time in DC recently.
Collins and Lemon have acted alongside each other on the show since the show began three months ago
Poppy Harlow (centre) also appears on the CNN morning show alongside the couple
While it’s unclear if Collins intentionally interrupted Lemon, a source called him “bossy” and “difficult to work with.”
The source added that he received notes to talk less during the show and share the stage with Harlow and Collins.
Lemon used to have his own show Don Lemon Tonight before Licht canceled it and created the new morning show.
“He was a solo act before,” the source said, while another added that the CNN host isn’t happy about having co-hosts.
“From what I understand, he wants the show to be about him,” a source close to Lemon told the news outlet. “I don’t know how to fix that. It’s a very difficult situation.’
While it’s unclear if Collins intentionally interrupted Lemon, a source called him “bossy” and “difficult to work with.”
Before Lemon allegedly yelled at Collins, he stirred up even more controversy after he “mansplained” his female co-hosts why men’s sports make more money.
On December 1, Harlow and Collins struggled to speak up after it was announced that the US women’s national soccer team will earn more at the men’s World Cup than they did at their 2019 World Cup.
Lemon, who was responsible for a series of controversial on-air statements, tried to explain to his colleagues that the US women’s soccer team historically earns less than their male counterparts because there is simply limited interest in their sport.
“You can’t get people interested in something they’re not interested in,” he said.
CNN This Morning co-host Don Lemon has reacted defensively to his stance that nobody really wants to watch women’s football
Harlow and Collins argued that women’s sports are undervalued by the companies that control advertising dollars because potential fans aren’t exposed enough to them to add to their marketing value.
Collins pointed out that in some instances, including on the world football stage, the US women’s team has a more impressive recent record than the men’s.
“The women have better skills,” she said when Lemon argued that women were generally worse at athletic competitions and if the women’s team played the men’s team, they would lose.
“I’m just being honest,” he said, ending the awkward section.
When he received a quick hit back from co-host Harlow, he was quick to qualify his opinion with the blanket statement, “I’m not sexist.”
“I grew up the only boy in an all-women family,” he added, before recounting that when he goes to sports bars and plays women’s games, an almost universal response from the crowd is, “I don’t want to see that.” ‘