(Jacob Bruns, Headline USA) Corporate media hack and CNN personality Don Lemon will undergo sensitivity training following a recent on-air remark that many considered to be sexist, Fox News reported.
Last week Lemon, commenting on Republican Nikki Haley’s recent announcement that she would run for president in 2024, noted that Haley is past her prime, much to the chagrin of his middle-aged co-hosts.
Don Lemon: "Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry, when a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, and 30s, and maybe 40s…"
Poppy Harlow: "Are you talking about prime for like child bearing?"
"Don’t shoot the messenger! I’m just saying what the facts are! Google it!" pic.twitter.com/n1HmtkWTpl
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 16, 2023
“A woman is considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,” Lemon said, persisting in his approach even as co-hosts Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow tried to restrain their anger toward him.
According to CNN boss Chris Licht, he met with Lemon to arrange sensitivity training sessions, even as female CNN staffers threaten to quit if he remains on air.
“I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation,” Licht said. “He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously.”
Licht also noted that Lemon’s time-out will only be temporary.
“It is important to me that CNN balances accountability with a fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes,” Licht said. “To that end, Don will return to CNN This Morning on Wednesday.”
Lemon had previously attempted to apologize—first to his coworkers and boss, and then publicly—noting that because he is friends with many women, his insults are fine.
“The people I am closest to in this organization are women,” Lemon said in an email to his coworkers, according to the New York Post.
“The people I seek counsel to first in this organization are women,” he continued. “The person I am closest to is my mother, a woman.”
Haley, who is 51 years old, had called for “mandatory mental competency tests” for politicians over the age of 75, leading Lemon to mock her for being past her prime.
But some interpreted the remark as a vailed dig at Collins and Harlow. Tension has been building between Lemon and his co-hosts for some time now.
According to several insider sources, the seasoned veteran approached the relatively new Collins after a show in early December to berate her publicly for interrupting him during the broadcast.
“Don screamed at Kaitlan, who was visibly upset and ran out of the studio,” one source with knowledge of the rift told the New York Post.
Another source noted that Collins now avoids Lemon as much as she can.
“At this point, Kaitlan wants to be on set with Don as little as possible,” the source said. “It’s messy.”
