On Monday, Don Lemon, the troubled anchor of CNN, announced his dismissal. Lemon took to Twitter to reveal that he was fired and expressed his surprise at not receiving direct communication about the decision.
Lemon stated, “This morning, my agent informed me that CNN has terminated my employment. I am shocked.”
CNN CEO, Chris Licht, released a memo saying Lemon had parted ways with the network.
Licht expressed gratitude for Lemon’s contributions to CNN during his 17 years there and stated that Lemon will always be a part of the CNN family. Licht wished Lemon luck and pledged support for his future endeavors.
Despite being involved in various recent scandals, Lemon, who had been a part of CNN for 17 years, appeared to be unaware that his tenure at the network was coming to an end.
Lemon released a statement on Monday saying, “After 17 years at CNN, I would have thought that someone in management would have had 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. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play.”
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) April 24, 2023
Lemon expressed gratitude to his former colleagues, whom he described as the most “talented journalists in the business,” and wished them well.
CNN disputed Lemon’s statement, asserting that his account was not accurate, saying, “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.”
Last year, Lemon was removed from his esteemed solo primetime role and placed on a morning show with co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. However, he denied that the move was a demotion and claimed that Chris Licht had offered him a promotion.
Lemon has made headlines on several occasions for making controversial statements on air. He equated Trump supporters with Ku Klux Klan members, voiced support for Antifa, and expressed anger towards individuals who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine for occupying hospital resources, among other incidents.
Despite Lemon’s tenure as the host of “CNN This Morning,” the show struggled with low ratings and failed to connect with viewers. It is currently unknown who will take over Lemon’s role on the morning show.
