At least on camera, CNN hosts Brooke Baldwin and Don Lemon have a longstanding friendship as the two tend to get wasted during the network’s New Year’s Eve celebrations. But things may be on the rocks since Baldwin lashed out at CNN as she's set to be forced out, claiming the network was unwelcoming to women. But during his Thursday night show, Fox News host Tucker Carlson found a soundbite of Lemon throwing his friend under the bus and discounting what she said.
“We try and keep up with what’s going on at CNN. And a few nights ago we told you about CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin, she’s on her way out. And on her way out she accused CNN of being sexist,” Carlson reminded his viewers.
There was a noticeable air of sarcasm as Carlson showed off some audio of Lemon speaking on The New York Times’ Sway podcast, hosted by Kara Swisher, in which he cast doubt on Baldwin’s claims about CNN:
LEMON: Well, a couple of things. I know everybody else's salary so I can't say that it’s a, you know, that it’s a “boy’s club.” I – Look, I just got there.
SWISHER: You don't think it is a boy’s club, as Brooke said.
LEMON: I don’t – I don’t think it’s a --
SWISHER: You’re having lunch with Zucker. I'm guessing she is not.
LEMON: Well, I don’t know who’s – I mean, I actually called him up and said “would you like to have lunch?” I mean, she can do the same thing. [Laughter]
SWISHER: Fair.
After a quick quip about Lemon giving off a Mr. Rourke from The Love Boat vibe, Carlson dispatched Lemon’s weak defense that he was new to the network and didn’t have an understanding of the internal politics.
“Anyway, he was asked about Brooke Baldwin’s claims and he said, ‘I just got here.’ Of course, he’s only been there 15 years. Time moves quickly when you work at a cable patriarchy,” he mocked.
Carlson turned up the sarcasm as he explained that Lemon was being sexist against his longtime friend. “Once you get past Mr. Lemon’s denial, we noticed something else: he was mansplaining if you can imagine,” he explained. “Like sitting knees open on the subway, lecturing Brooke Baldwin on how to get into the bro lunch with Jeff Zucker.”
“Now, we know Don Lemon might not strike you as the poster child for toxic masculinity, but that’s exactly what that was. Casual sexism,” he added. “He doesn’t even realize it. Don Lemon needs to check himself and his male privilege. Stop the man-explaining, Mr. Rourke.”
At one point in this jab at CNN, Carlson reminded viewers again of how he had told CNN boss Jeff Zucker “just transition and increase the number of women at CNN.” And he had an update: “[Zucker] ignored our advice.”
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
Fox News Channel’s Tucker Carlson Tonight
April 15, 2021
8:58:15 p.m. EasterTUCKER CARLSON: We try and keep up with what’s going on at CNN. And a few nights ago we told you about CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin, she’s on her way out. And on her way out she accused CNN of being sexist.
And you may recall, we gave the advice to Jeff Zucker, just transition and increase the number of women at CNN. But he ignored our advice.
Instead, the channel is doubling down on women hating, watch this.
DON LEMON: Well, a couple of things. I know everybody else's salary so I can't say that it’s a, you know, that it’s a “boy’s club.” I – Look, I just got there.
KARA SWISHER (host of The New York Times’ Sway podcast): You don't think it is a boy’s club, as Brooke said.
LEMON: I don’t – I don’t think it’s a --
SWISHER: You’re having lunch with Zucker. I'm guessing she is not.
LEMON: Well, I don’t know who’s – I mean, I actually called him up and said “would you like to have lunch?” I mean, she can do the same thing. [Laughter]
SWISHER: Fair.
CARLSON: Remember Mr. Rourke from Love Boat? Why is it Don Lemon every time you just sort of get this Mr. Rourke vibe from him?
Anyway, he was asked about Brooke Baldwin’s claims and he said, “I just got here.” Of course, he’s only been there 15 years. Time moves quickly when you work at a cable patriarchy!
Once you get past Mr. Lemon’s denial, we noticed something else: he was mansplaining, if you can imagine. Like sitting knees open on the subway, lecturing Brooke Baldwin on how to get into the bro lunch with Jeff Zucker.
Now, we know Don Lemon might not strike you as the poster child for toxic masculinity, but that’s exactly what that was. Casual sexism. He doesn’t even realize it. Don Lemon needs to check himself and his male privilege. Stop the man-explaining, Mr. Rourke.
