Don Lemon is wrapping up his time-out from co-hosting CNN’s morning show and will return to work on Wednesday. Even though it looks like the guy is trying to get himself fired, CNN’s Chris Licht said he’s spoken to Lemon and he’s agreed to go for some training. Licht sent a memo to staff letting them know his decision to let Lemon return to work.
CNN Worldwide Chairman and CEO Chris Licht wrote in a memo to staff late Monday, “I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation. He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously.”
Licht added, “It is important to me that CNN balances accountability with fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes. To that end, Don will return to CNN This Morning on Wednesday.”
I wonder what “listen and learn” means. There have been stories written about Lemon’s inability to share co-hosting duties with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. Reports are that his co-hosts complain that Lemon talks over them and tries to lecture them when he thinks he is right about his opinion on a topic, which is always. If true, that would track. Lemon enjoyed the luxury of his primetime show where he didn’t have to share time with co-hosts and essentially said whatever he wanted to say. He was known as an opinionated host who wasn’t shy about spouting off.
As I wrote on Monday, I was disappointed that the women on the show didn’t speak up for Nikki Haley as Don Lemon declared she is past her prime. Poppy took Lemon to task by pushing back on his nonsensical claim but she didn’t say anything that would be interpreted as support for Haley’s entrance into the GOP primary. Kaitlan remained silent and just observed the exchange between Lemon and Harlow. It’s hard not to think that if the woman candidate being talked about was a Democrat, perhaps Hillary Clinton or Kamala Harris, the women on ‘CNN This Morning’ may have had a more supportive response.
Lemon was not on the show on Friday, the excuse being that he was taking a pre-scheduled day off. He and his fiance were photographed frolicking on a beach in Miami. He was also absent from Monday’s show. He will return on Wednesday, I assume appropriately humbled. It will be Ash Wednesday, perhaps Lemon can give up saying misogynist things about women candidates for Lent.
The Daily Mail had an exclusive report on Monday that female staffers at CNN were threatening to quit if Lemon returned. They demanded that Lemon be fired. The Daily Mail piece speculated that Lemon’s resignation may come today. We know now that that’s not going to happen.
‘People are hurt by his actions and are not going to let this go. It is like every woman over 50 in America has taken this as a personal insult. The female staffers at CNN have. He needs to make his vacation a permanent one.’
Indeed, another CNN insider said ‘the women of CNN are angry. He’s made it impossible to do their jobs. He’s an embarrassment to the network and needs to go.’
When approached for comment on female staffers threatening to exit unless Lemon does, a CNN spokesperson declined to specifically address that issue.
Indeed, another CNN insider said ‘the women of CNN are angry. He’s made it impossible to do their jobs. He’s an embarrassment to the network and needs to go.’
When approached for comment on female staffers threatening to exit unless Lemon does, a CNN spokesperson declined to specifically address that issue.
Loyal viewers have flooded CNN with angry responses to Lemon’s words. No one is stepping up to offer support for him as a co-worker. ‘There is not one person at CNN who thinks that he should remain on air. He knows how badly he screwed up and he also knows that he cannot talk his way out of this one. His apology meant nothing.’
Lemon’s remarks provided fodder for others to weigh in, triggered by Haley’s suggestion that those seeking political office past the age of 75 take cognitive tests. Whoopi Goldberg went on a rant about the audacity of Haley to comment on being the next generation of leadership in the GOP. The women on “The View” are always happy to have Joe Biden’s back against anyone who dares to criticize him. Never mind that he’s too old and feeble to do his job, he’s a Democrat and that’s all that matters.
We’ll see how Lemon handles himself when he returns tomorrow. Does he act as though nothing happened or does he again apologize and vow to do better?
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