An outcry was caused by a series of statements that CNN anchor Don Lemon made on television over the past week regarding women and getting older. The network made the announcement late on Monday night that Lemon will return to his usual role as host of the morning show on Wednesday.
Chris Licht, the chairman of CNN, sent a curt and succinct letter at 10:37 p.m. stating that the network took “this incident very seriously” and that Mr. Lemon “has agreed to participate in formal training” regarding his on-air behaviour. The memo was 75 words long.
Mr. Licht wrote in his letter, “I sat down with Don and had an open and meaningful talk.” He added, “It is critical to me that CNN strikes a balance between accountability and the cultivation of a culture in which people can own, learn, and grow from their mistakes.”
The fact that Mr. Licht chose to address the issue in a memo in the final hours of a holiday weekend demonstrated how much of a pall the event had cast over his network.
What Happened To Don Lemon
According to a source in the New York Times, Don Lemon called into the newsroom and apologised to the staff of the morning programme despite the fact that he was not on-air for Friday’s episode.
Lemon responded with, “I am sorry.” “I did not intend to cause anyone any harm. I apologise to anyone I may have offended. He went on to say that some of his closest colleagues are female, specifically mentioning anchors Dana Bash and Erin Burnett.
On Twitter, Lemon also offered an apology for his remarks, which he described as “inartful and irrelevant.” His detractors never stopped accusing him of being hypocritical and sexist.
There were rumblings that this particular event might be the one that led to Lemon’s dismissal from CNN. According to GQ’s findings, Lemon, who once worked as a reporter for NBC10, has a history of televised gaffes that range in severity.
Lemon made headlines around the time of the George Zimmerman trial in 2013 by playing a footage in which Bill O’Reilly expressed his disdain for the African-American community.
O’Reilly hadn’t gone far enough, according to Lemon, who then proceeded to make some nasty suggestions to “Black folks.”
A representative for CNN stated that Lemon’s three-day absence was not an official suspension of his duties.
CNN This Morning, which first aired in November and was expected to usher in a new era, was criticised by the Los Angeles Times for failing to live up to its expectations. Yet, it has gotten off to a difficult start, with tensions both on and off the television.
According to reports, Lemon yelled at Collins off-camera in December because she interrupted him while he was live on TV.
The New York Times reports that Lemon has expressed his frustration to other employees at the network about the falling ratings for the network’s prime-time programming.
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How Did The Thursday’s episode Go?
The New York Times was told by sources working on set that tensions were running high, and that Harlow even left the set during a break for commercials. Also, Harlow skipped a portion in which CNN medical journalist Sanjay Gupta was present, but she did return.
In front of the audience, CNN contributor Audie Cornish explained to Lemon that “the ideas of ‘prime’ that you want to Google” refer to “sexual and reproductive prime.” Lemon dodged responsibility, claiming that he was not criticising Haley but rather responding to her criticism of older politicians.
The event came to a close with a discussion about the golfing prowess of Tiger Woods, who is now 47 years old.
Collins reported that they had played 72 holes in four days. “[That’s] something that could only be accomplished by a person in their prime.”
While Lemon was laughing, Harlow turned to the camera and remarked, “Touché, Kaitlan.”
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What’s Next For CNN This Morning And Don Lemon?
Chris Licht, the chairman of CNN, stated to the crew that he was “disappointed” by Don Lemon. Licht took over as chairman of CNN in May and has highlighted CNN This Morning as his trademark project since then.
According to a recording of the call that was acquired by the New York Times, Licht is heard telling his staff, “His words were distressing, disrespectful, and unjust to his cohosts; ultimately, they were a major distraction to the important job that this organisation is doing.”
Licht stated in a memo that Lemon is scheduled to report back to the set on Wednesday.
Licht shared, “I got down with Don and we had a talk that was both candid and profound.” “He has indicated that he is willing to take part in formal instruction, in addition to maintaining his ability to listen and learn. This is a matter that we take extremely seriously.
It is not clear what exactly will be covered in the sensitivity training.
According to Licht, “it is crucial to me that CNN strikes a balance between accountability and establishing a culture in which people can own up to their mistakes, learn from them, and evolve as a result of them.”
