CNN This Morning, the supposed crown jewel of new CNN boss Chris Licht’s early moves as head of the network, was rocked this week by another case of idiocy with drama queen co-host Don Lemon under fire and taking Friday off following Thursday’s sexist smear of 2024 GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley as past “her prime.” After said remark, the New York Post said co-host Poppy Harlow stormed off the set in anger.
Alexandra Steigrad had the details (after having broken the story on Lemon’s angry outburst against co-host Kaitlan Collins following the December 8 show): “A furious Poppy Harlow walked off the ‘CNN This Morning’ set following a tense exchange with Lemon after he said the GOP presidential candidate was ‘not in her prime,’ according to sources with knowledge of the situation.”
She added that it was painted as “a ‘well-timed bathroom break’” and, to further add to the drama, included Collins.
Not only has the chemistry between Lemon and Collins soured, she explained, but between Lemon and Harlow as well.
Naturally, Steigrad said “a CNN insider” told her it’s given Licht further reason to continue “squeezing out Lemon from the morning gig” with the source saying directly that “Chris isn’t happy and he has spoken to Don a couple times today” with Lemon “know[ing] it can’t happen again.”
Lemon’s sexist remark coincided with a scheduled “Coffee with Chris” gathering of staffers where, sure enough, it came up with Licht allegedly saying “[p]eople say stupid things and that if it’s a trend, then there’s recourse.”
Fox News Digital’s David Rutz and Joseph Wulfsohn reported Lemon’s day off was previously scheduled, but the timing is ironic considering how, after his berating of Collins, Licht gave him the day off. They, like Steigrad, had sources telling them CNN staffers were beside themselves.
The New York Times also joined the pile-on Friday morning as Michael Grynbaum and John Koblin said Lemon “faced an internal rebuke from” Licht during the network’s Friday morning “editorial call.”
Along with saying he was “disappointed” with what Lemon said, Licht added Lemon’s remark about Haley’s age “were upsetting, unacceptable and unfair to his co-hosts, and ultimately a huge distraction to the great work of this organization.”
Better yet, Lemon joined in to say he was “sorry’ and “did not mean to hurt” or “offend anyone.”
His reasoning was absolutely comical. Why? Well, because, according to Don, “the people I’m closest to in this organization are women” such as Dana Bash and Erin Burnett.
With CNN This Morning struggling in the ratings and behind its canceled predecessor New Day, one has to wonder if Lemon will be receiving a pink slip or further demotion in his near future.
