Holy Sailing Under the Radar, Batman! This reminds me of the day that Farrah Fawcett died. Do you remember that? Yes, I know, you’re scratching your head…..but if I said, “Do you remember the day that Michael Jackson died?” Oh, HELL yes! Now you’re awake. What if I told you they were the same day?
Indeed both stars died on the same day, June 25, 2009. But Michael Jackson, being by far the bigger star and having by far the more dramatic death, dying of “extreme propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication,” from drugs which were illegally administered grabbed the headlines.
So it is today with Tucker Carlson’s surgical severance from Fox News getting all the press, while Don Lemon was likewise terminated this morning. And it is an acrimonious split, from what we can tell. He’s already lawyered up, says the New York Times:
“I am stunned,” Mr. Lemon wrote. “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.” (CNN disputed Mr. Lemon’s account, saying the anchor “was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”)
In a clear sign of acrimony, Mr. Lemon has retained the aggressive Hollywood litigator Bryan Freedman to handle his exit. His contract with CNN runs through 2026, according to two people with direct knowledge of his deal.
Hours before the dueling statements, Mr. Lemon, 57, had appeared on air in his usual anchor chair on “CNN This Morning,” the show he has hosted since November with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. He showed no signs of anxiety and signed off to viewers with a smile and a friendly, “Bye, everybody.”
This decision was doubtlessly fueled in part by the fact that Lemon had made a comment about Nikki Haley being “not in her prime” meaning too old. The 52-year-old Haley is beyond the “20’s, 30’s and 40’s” framework that Lemon decreed was information easily available on Google as to when a woman is past her prime. It didn’t go over well, understandably, being a sexist, ageist crack. Had Haley been a male, the comment would not have been made, safe to say.
And Lemon is a bit of a sexist. The article goes on to say how he was miffed at co-host Kaitlin Collins for “interrupting him too much.” Kaitlin, don’t you know you’re supposed to be window dressing for the star? Just smile, look good, laugh at his jokes and set up his punchlines? What’s wrong with you, gurl?
In recent weeks, CNN’s bookers had discovered that some guests did not want to appear on-air with Mr. Lemon, and research on the morning show reviewed by CNN executives found that his popularity with audiences had fallen, one of the people said.
In its Monday statement, CNN said that its morning show — a major initiative of Mr. Licht — would continue. “‘CNN This Morning’ has been on the air for nearly six months, and we are committed to its success,” the network said.
Still, Mr. Lemon’s exit raises the possibility of a bigger overhaul. Ms. Collins, a former White House correspondent, recently drew solid ratings during a weeklong run as a substitute host at 9 p.m., fueling speculation within the network that she might be considered for a permanent position in the time slot.
And this was the real point of no return.
Last Wednesday, however, Mr. Lemon made headlines again after a highly contentious on-air exchange with Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential candidate. The segment deteriorated as the men fiercely debated questions of Black history and the Second Amendment; Mr. Lemon’s co-anchor, Ms. Harlow, could be seen sitting silently beside him, at times casting her gaze elsewhere and scrolling through her smartphone.
Morning shows are not about Black history and guns, generally. Lemon was miscast and now he’s apparently angry and bitter.
Seriously, I think Lemon should put through a call to Tucker Carlson today. Whatever their differences, I’ll bet that they have more to say to one another on this topic than any other two people in the world.
Don Lemon has a history of misogyny. Putting him on in the a.m. with two female co-hosts was destined to be a disaster.
yeah, my reaction was that it wasn’t his VR interview last week (where VR was talking a mile a minute about black history).
It’s CNN. A network I stopped paying attention to back in 2008. There was a time when they had something pretty good going but they blew it. And for me 2008 was it. In the past fifteen years if you added up all of the minutes I’ve watched on CNN it wouldn’t come close to an hour. Although I guess if you added in a few seconds of coverage of what was going on there on other news shows or stuff on websites like this I’m sure it would exceed an hour. But only because I was watching mostly due to more credible folks pointing out their deficiencies.
It Lemon got himself fired, what do I care? He’s been in the news quite a bit in recent times for screwing up – saying stupid and mean sh!t. I rather doubt those who watch CNN will miss him. Nor I gather will anyone else.
He has been an @sshole for 57 years. CNN should fire EVERYONE in HR.
Lemon is 50. HE is past his prime. Not the first time he has been rude about women. And he gets drunk on New Year’s,Eve. I am shocked Brook Baldwin didn’t dump a pitcher of ice water over him to.sober up. his ass.
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