CNN’s Don Lemon Won’t Appear On Monday’s ‘This Morning’ Breakfast Show After Nikki Haley Remarks
Don Lemon, a legacy media anchor won’t be on “CNN This Morning” On Monday, after announcing that Nikki Haley, a 51-year-old Republican presidential candidate, wasn’t “in her prime” Following her bid for the White House in 2024 last week.
Lemon initially had been scheduled to anchor the show along with Kaitlan and Poppy Harlow. A copy of the CNN anchor schedule was obtained by and has been reviewed by ConfiderOfficials at the network seem to have removed Lemon. Instead, they will have Sara Snider anchoring Harlow in New York and Collins for Poland.
According to a source, Lemon’s future on the program is being discussed by a news outlet. “ongoing conversations.”
“He is a constant distraction,” Confider was told by the source.
CNN spokesperson denied that the report was true. MediaiteSaying Lemon was “taking the holiday” due to paparazzi harassment — although they did not specifically deny he would be out on Monday.
“He is taking the holiday. He’s been chased by paparazzi all weekend,” According to the spokesperson. “He’s been under attack. He’s not ready to go back on air.”
Lemon stated, during the CNN morning show, on Thursday. “Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry, when a woman is in their prime [is] in [her] 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”
Lemon’s cohost Poppy Harlow was aware of the controversy and asked him to clarify. “What are you talking — Wait … prime for what?”
“That’s not according to me,” Lemon was the answer. “It depends. It’s just like, prime. If you look it up,” Lemon juice added. “If you Google when is a woman in her prime, it’ll say 20s, 30s, 40s.”
Later, the CNN anchor tweeted that his comments regarding Haley were “inartful and irrelevant.”
“The reference I made to a woman’s ‘prime’ this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and loved ones have pointed out, and I regret it,” Lemon’s tweet. “A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.”
Haley replied to the tweet of CNN’s anchor.
“To be clear, I am NOT calling for competency tests for Sexist middle-aged CNN anchors; only for people who make our laws and are 75+,” Haley tweeted.
Let me be clear. I do not advocate for competency tests for middle-aged, sexist CNN anchors. Only for those who have made our laws and are at least 75. https://t.co/wvUNCcNdVt
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 16, 2023
In another tweet with a clip of the video segment, Haley said, “It’s always the liberals who are the most sexist.”
Liberals can’t stand the idea of having competency tests for older politicians to make sure they can do the job.
BTW it’s always the liberals who are the most sexist. pic.twitter.com/PzpniQFLff
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 16, 2023
CNN CEO Chris Licht reportedly said during an editorial call on Friday morning that Lemon’s comments about Haley “disappointed” him.
“His remarks were upsetting, unacceptable, and unfair to his co-hosts, and ultimately a huge distraction to the great work of this organization,” Licht said to his staffers, according to a readout of the call obtained by Confider.
Lemon offered an apology on the same call.
“I’m sorry,” Lemon said. I didn’t mean to hurt anyone. I did not mean to offend anyone.”
DailyMail.com reported last week that inside sources described Lemon as “rude, self-righteous and clearly sexist” to the news outlet, adding that “his apology meant nothing.”
“Don has been skating on thin ice for so long, and many wanted him fired in December when he freaked out on Kaitlin Collins for no reason,” the sources said. “She was in tears, and it was so inappropriate.”
Lemon reportedly left Collins “rattled” on the set of “This Morning” on December 8 after he allegedly blew up at her once the show was over because she had interrupted him on air.
Confider reported that Lemon’s agent Jay Sures, also the Vice Chairman of United Talent Agency, hung up on the outlet when staff reached out to ask why Lemon would not be appearing on “This Morning” on Monday.
“I am now blocking your number,” Sures said in a follow-up text to the outlet, according to Confider.
The Daily Mail reported ratings for CNN’s “This Morning” had experienced record lows since its launch, with averages of just over 330,000 viewers.
Katie Jerkovich contributed to this report.
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