CNN cuts him loose
What a start to the week. First, it was Fox News and Tucker Carlson parting ways. Then, while absorbing that surprise announcement, a tweet showed up on my Twitter feed that Don Lemon is out at CNN. That one wasn’t as big of a surprise as the news on Tucker, but still. I didn’t have either on my Bingo card for today.
“CNN and Don have parted ways,” the network said in a statement on Monday. “Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”
The network said Mr. Lemon’s morning show, which he hosted with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, would continue. “‘CNN This Morning’ has been on the air for nearly six months, and we are committed to its success,” CNN said.
Tucker won’t be back in his regular time slot. Friday’s show was his last. Lemon was on the air this morning.
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Don Lemon (@donlemon) April 24, 2023
“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN,” Mr. Lemon said in a statement that he posted to Twitter. “I am stunned. 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.”
As I said, the news on Lemon was a long time coming. There have been stories circulating for a while now about how tense and unpleasant the work environment is on the early morning show’s set.
