Don Lemon, a longtime and controversial CNN anchor, is departing the network.
CNN announced on Monday that it was severing ways with Lemon, a prominent anchor who has been embroiled in controversy for years, especially in recent months.
“CNN and Don have parted ways,” the network said in a statement on 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 endeavors.”
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) April 24, 2023
Don Lemon OUT at CNN. Here is the note from Chris Licht. pic.twitter.com/9zfcaXwQ5s
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) April 24, 2023
Lemon was demoted from his own primetime program to an ensemble cast, leaving him with no option but to leave the network. CNN’s most recent morning program, “CNN This Morning,” hosted by Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins, has the lowest ratings in the network’s history.
CNN has consistently lagged behind its cable news competitors Fox News and MSNBC in the morning. However, it hasn’t been this terrible in a while. The revamped program with Lemon has the lowest ratings for the network’s morning show in nearly a decade.
“Since its Nov. 1, 2022 launch, “CNN This Morning” — hosted by Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins — has drawn in the lowest viewership among adults 25-54, the key demographic for cable news, and the second-lowest total viewership among each iteration of the network’s morning programming since ‘New Day’ was launched in June 2013, according to Nielsen data,” the outlet comments.
Specifically, Lemon has caused a 16.2% decline in total viewers compared to the most recent version of “New Day.” In its first three months on the air, the show’s demo viewership has decreased by 21%.
It was previously alleged that Lemon verbally abused one of his co-hosts off-air.
After an off-air altercation with morning show co-host Kaitlin Collins, Lemon’s anger appears to have escalated even further.
According to a recent report by the New York Post, multiple sources claim that Lemon “screamed” at Collins following an on-air incident on the set of “CNN This Morning,” with tensions continuing to rise as the show continues to tank and Lemon appears to be unhappy sharing on-air duties with Collins and co-host Poppy Harlow.
The Post noted: “According to two sources with knowledge of the situation, the 56-year-old Lemon approached 30-year-old Collins following the show’s Thursday, Dec. 8 broadcast — and unloaded on her in front of staffers as he accused her of interrupting him on air. News of the explosive incident made its way up to CNN CEO Chris Licht, who is said to have been appalled by Lemon’s behavior, according to a source. A second source said a producer talked to Lemon at the behest of Licht and told the anchor to take the next day off to ‘cool off.’”
“Don screamed at Kaitlan, who was visibly upset and ran out of the studio,” one source with knowledge of the incident told The Post.
The outlet also reported that Lemon, Harlow, and Collins were scheduled to get beverages and travel together to the White House Christmas party for media figures the night following the incident, according to the source. However, the gathering never occurred, and the three individuals traveled separately to the celebration, according to “an insider.” According to additional sources, Lemon and his agent Jay Sures had a late-night dinner after the celebration.
More on this story via Conservative Brief:
Now, Radar Online is reporting on the fallout from The Post’s report last week after CNN reportedly included a link to it in one of its internal newsletters. CONTINUE READING…
