By DAVID BAUDER (AP Media Writer)
NEW YORK (AP) — Longtime CNN host Don Lemon is out on the cable information community just a little over two months after apologizing to viewers for on-air feedback about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, CNN introduced Monday
“CNN and Don have parted ways,” CNN chair and CEO Chris Licht mentioned in a memo to workers that was additionally posted on the community’s communications Twitter account. “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 endeavors.”
CNN didn’t present a public rationalization for Lemon’s departure. But on the “CNN This Morning” co-host’s personal Twitter account, Lemon contended the information got here as a shock to him and characterised it as a firing. He had appeared on his present that morning.
“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned,” he wrote in an announcement posted shortly after 12 p.m. Eastern. “After 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.”
Around 45 minutes later, CNN issued a rebuttal on its PR account: “Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
Lemon’s ouster got here the identical day that Fox News introduced it was abruptly parting methods with its hottest host, conservative character Tucker Carlson.
In mid-February, Lemon prompted an uproar when, throughout a dialogue on “CNN This Morning” with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins concerning the ages of politicians, he mentioned that the 51-year-old Haley was not “in her prime.” A girl, he mentioned, was thought of in her prime “in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s.”
Harlow challenged Lemon, making an attempt to make clear what he was referencing: “I think we need to qualify. Are you talking about prime for childbearing or are you talking about prime for being president?”
“Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are,” Lemon responded. He introduced up the topic once more an hour later, and was rebutted by commentator Audie Cornish.
Lemon issued an announcement the identical day saying he regretted his “inartful and irrelevant” feedback. He was subsequently absent from the present for 3 days, returning the next week with a tweeted apology however no point out of the episode on air.
Licht advised staffers in a memo on the time that Lemon would bear “formal training,” however didn’t specify what that will entail. Licht added that it was essential to him that the community “balances accountability with … fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes.”
Lemon used to host the prime-time “Don Lemon Tonight” however moved to the mornings when the community launched “CNN This Morning” final November, simply earlier than the U.S. midterm elections, as one of many first main programming strikes below Licht. But the present hasn’t had the meant rankings impact, and CNN management urged persistence final month amid downturn in viewership throughout the board.
Haley, who had criticized Lemon’s statements as sexist and used the incident to fundraise in February, took to Twitter on Monday to name Lemon’s ouster “a great day for women everywhere,” linking to the beverage sleeves emblazoned with “Past my prime? Hold my beer.”
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Associated Press Writer Meg Kinnard contributed reporting from Columbia, South Carolina.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”