According to two sources with knowledge of the situation, 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.

“Don screamed at Kaitlan, who was visibly upset and ran out of the studio,” one source with knowledge of the skirmish said.

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.”

[There’s a lot of pressure on the CNN This Morning crew to deliver, and thus far they haven’t. Ratings for the John Berman-hosted show that Lemon’s show replaced never were good, but the new show is plumbing the depths thus far. Creative people have tiffs like these, especially under the kind of pressure they’re experiencing. If ratings don’t improve, we’ll probably hear more of these stories, and a lot sooner afterward than this one from December. — Ed]