This past week, television journalist Don Lemon was abruptly fired from CNN. The 57-year-old host of CNN This Morning announced his departure on Twitter, writing, “I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN,” Lemon stated on Twitter, “I am stunned.”
The Louisiana native had been at CNN for seventeen years, beginning his tenure in 2006, following a brief stint at Chicago television station WMAQ-TV. Lemon initially started as a correspondent before becoming a presenter on Don Lemon Tonight in 2014. During his tenure, Lemon was outspoken in his commentary surrounding culture and politics. His commentary surrounding former President Donald Trump, foreign policy, and popular culture often made him a target of intense vitreal.
Lemon was recently under fire from accusations of misogyny in the workplace. According to a 2023 article from Marca.com, it states, “During a segment of CNN This Morning in February, Lemon said that women who were older than 40 years old were “past their prime,” causing outrage among staffers and viewers alike. He made the comments while discussing presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s proposal that politicians ages 75 and up should face mental competency tests.”
Immediately after, both of his female co-stars Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow voiced their disdain. The article continues, “Harlow and Collins responded with apparent incredulity to the comment, only for Lemon to double down and insist that if viewers ‘Google it’ they would see he was right…Sources inside CNN told DailyMail.com that female staffers were telling management to pick between them and Lemon, saying ‘if Don doesn’t go, others have threatened to quit.’”
Multiple sources say CNN’s firing of Lemon could be interpreted as an eventuality due to the myriad of controversies he ensued, the news network opposed Lemon’s stating “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.”
Aside from Anderson Cooper, Lemon is one of the most prominent gay men in broadcast journalism as well as the first Black gay man in broadcast journalism. His work has earned him several accolades, including being included as one of the 150 most influential African Americans by Ebony magazine in 2009 as well as a Native Son Award in 2016.
In a statement to USA CNN CEO Chris Licht said that the network wishes him well and will cheer him on as he pursues future endeavors. Lemon himself has yet to comment on what his next endeavor entails.
