According to The Daily Beast, Don Lemon will not appear on “CNN This Morning” on Monday as discussions about his future on the show continue at high levels within the network.
Lemon was slated to co-anchor the program with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, but after making offensive comments about women and aging, he was forced to issue an apology to CNN staff on Friday. Confider obtained and reviewed a copy of the CNN anchor schedule that confirmed Lemon’s previous booking.
During Thursday’s broadcast, Lemon criticized Nikki Haley, a GOP presidential candidate, for suggesting that politicians over the age of 75 should undergo yearly mental competency tests. He later expressed regret for his “inartful and irrelevant” remarks. To justify his position, Lemon awkwardly referred to a Google search that stated a woman’s prime was in her 20s, 30s, and 40s.
Haley, who is 51 years old, had recently announced her intent to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 and tweeted that “Liberals” are opposed to competency evaluations for older politicians.
CNN management sent out a new on-air lineup schedule on Sunday afternoon, with Harlow and Sara Sidner anchoring the show in New York, and Collins reporting from Poland, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
One source told the website that discussions about Lemon’s future on the show are ongoing, as he has been a “constant distraction.” On Friday, CNN CEO Chris Licht expressed disappointment with Don Lemon’s comments about Nikki Haley being past her prime.
At an informal meeting on Thursday known as “Coffee with Chris,” approximately 30 employees posed questions to Licht regarding the network’s struggling ratings. One of the attendees purportedly inquired about Lemon’s statements concerning Haley, who is 51 years old.
