Following allegations of misogyny and misconduct, Don Lemon, a CNN anchor, has criticized the network for his termination.

Don Lemon, a well-known and long-standing anchor on CNN, has been fired from the network, leaving many of his fans and colleagues in shock. 

Lemon took to Twitter to express his surprise, stating that he had been informed of the decision by his agent. CNN, on the other hand, simply said they had “parted ways” with the anchor, wishing him well in his future endeavors.

The decision to let Lemon go was made following on-air remarks he made about Republican Nikki Haley, a former UN ambassador and governor of South Carolina. During a segment earlier this year, Lemon stated that Haley was not “in her prime,” a comment that was widely criticized as sexist.

“When a woman is considered to be in her prime – in her 20s, 30s, and maybe her 40s,” he stated.

This dismissal comes on the heels of another major media departure. Moments before Lemon’s announcement, Fox News announced it was parting ways with primetime host Tucker Carlson. 

Lemon had been a fixture on CNN for 17 years and was most recently a co-host of the network’s This Morning program. Despite his long-standing tenure, it seems his controversial comments were the last straw for CNN.

In response to objections from his female co-hosts, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, CNN anchor Don Lemon defended his on-air remarks by stating, “I’m just saying what the facts are – Google it.”

However, he quickly came under fire for his comments and issued a statement later that day, expressing regret for his “inartful and irrelevant” words. He also apologized to the newsroom and agreed to undergo “mandatory training” to address the incident.

Despite his attempt to make amends, Lemon’s comments continued to draw criticism, including from actress Michelle Yeoh, who appeared to reference the incident in her acceptance speech at the Oscars, urging women not to let anyone tell them they are “past their prime.”

More recently, on Monday, former UN ambassador and South Carolina governor Nikki Haley seemed to address Lemon’s firing, calling it a “great day for women everywhere” and adding the hashtag “#StillInMyPrime” in a tweet.

Lemon’s reputation took another hit when a report from Variety in April detailed allegations of misogynistic behavior towards his CNN colleagues. According to the report, Lemon called a producer fat to her face, mocked and mimicked a colleague, and allegedly sent threatening texts to another. However, a representative for Lemon denied the accusations.

Last autumn, Lemon sparked controversy by suggesting that the US men’s soccer team should be compensated more than the women’s team, citing the men’s game as “more captivating to watch.”

Don Lemon Hits Out At the Network After Being Fired

On Monday, Don Lemon appeared on CNN’s morning program before news of his dismissal surfaced later that day. 

Lemon took to Twitter to express his disappointment with the lack of direct communication from management, stating that he had not been given any indication that his work at the network was in jeopardy. 

“After 17 years at CNN I would have thought someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly,” the 57-year-old wrote on Twitter. “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.”

He added,  “It is clear that there are larger issues at play.”

The network did not provide a specific reason for his firing but disputed Lemon’s account of events, saying he had been given the opportunity to meet with management. Lemon has hired an entertainment lawyer to address the situation since his contract was signed to last until 2026. 

CNN This Morning will continue with Lemon’s former co-hosts, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. Lemon had previously hosted the primetime show Don Lemon Tonight for over eight years before leaving to help launch CNN This Morning. 

Following his comments about Nikki Haley, guests reportedly declined to appear on the show with Lemon. The show has struggled with ratings in recent months, falling behind Fox’s Fox & Friends and MSNBC’s Morning Joe.

On the same day, former President Donald Trump referred to Lemon as the “dumbest man on television” in a post on his social media site Truth Social, but did not comment on Tucker Carlson’s firing.