April 24, (THEWILL) – Cable News Network (CNN) has fired Don Lemon from his role as an anchor at the network.
Lemon announced the news on Twitter, saying he was informed by his agent that he was being terminated.
“I am stunned, after 17 years at CNN I would have thought someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly,” he wrote.
This development is coming after Variety published a story earlier this month on allegations that Lemon mistreated his female colleagues over the course of his career at CNN.
Lemon first came under fire in February during a segment on ‘CNN This Morning’ when he remarked that Republican presidential candidate, Nikki Haley, was no longer in her prime. The comment was made while discussing a suggestion by Haley that candidates over the age of 75 should be subjected to mental competency exams.
“Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry,” Lemon said.
“When a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s.”
When pushed by co-anchor, Poppy Harlow, Lemon told her not to shoot the messenger.
Chris Licht, CNN CEO, told employees that Lemon agreed to partake in training following public criticism about his comments. He also said earlier this month that both CNN and Lemon have “moved on” from the issue.
Reacting to his sack, Licht said that the network and Lemon have parted ways, according to a memo provided to NBC News Monday.
“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 endeavours,” he said.
Lemon has been with CNN since 2006, joining the network after anchoring at NBC Chicago and working as a correspondent for NBC News, the ‘TODAY’ show and ‘NBC Nightly News.
