Cable News Network (CNN) has fired anchor Don Lemon after 17 years with the company.
Though no specific reason was given for his dismissal, Chris Licht, the CEO of CNN, acknowledged Lemon’s contributions to the network in a memo to staff.
“We thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years,” Licht wrote.
“Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”
Lemon, in a statement on Monday, expressed his shock over his sudden termination. He said: “I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. 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.”
He added: “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. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play. With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run. They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best.”
However, the CNN CEO has countered Lemon’s claims and stated that his version of events is inaccurate.
Chris Licht revealed that Lemon “was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
Don Lemon, who joined CNN in September 2006, hosted the prime-time programme ‘Don Lemon Tonight’ for over eight years before joining ‘CNN This Morning’. He recently faced backlash over sexist comments he made about former South Carolina governor and US presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
Lemon’s remarks were criticized as sexist after he said the 51-year-old former governor “isn’t in her prime,” adding that a woman is only “considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s, and maybe 40s.”
Following the backlash, Lemon apologized to the organization and his colleagues during an editorial meeting.
