Don Lemon, a former CNN anchor, voiced intense criticism against his previous employer, CNN, following an acrimonious exit from the network’s headquarters in New York, New York in April 2023. His departure, which concluded a 17-year career and resulted in a multimillion-dollar settlement for Lemon, was characterized by allegations, rebuttals, and public spats.
In a recent interview, Lemon asserted, “Big TV networks and their executives don’t like big mouth, sort of middle or left-leaning people,” suggesting that such networks systematically stifle voices similar to his. “They find ways to get rid of them,” he further added, targeting the traditional media leadership with his remarks.
The last controversy involving Lemon at CNN came to light when he stated that Nikki Haley, the Republican presidential candidate, was “not in her prime” at the age of 51. This comment in February 2023 sparked swift backlash and a formal reprimand from CNN’s management, playing a role in his dismissal two months later. While Lemon described his firing as sudden, CNN’s Chairman and CEO Chris Licht insisted that they had offered him a chance to discuss with management prior to the decision.
An extensive investigation by Variety revealed years of workplace disputes. The report documented numerous instances involving female colleagues, including an internal investigation into alleged threatening text messages that Lemon reportedly sent to former co-host Kyra Phillips. The report also highlighted accusations of Lemon ridiculing fellow anchors Nancy Grace and Soledad O’Brien on air, making derogatory comments about their looks, and damaging office property in bouts of anger. However, under the tenure of former CNN president Jeff Zucker, which ended in February 2022, Lemon retained his position despite these contentious issues.
In the later part of 2022, CNN reassigned Lemon from his peak-time slot to co-host “CNN This Morning” with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. This shift became problematic. Following a disagreement about interruptions during an interview in February 2023, Lemon allegedly “screamed” at Collins off-camera, leading to network management ordering him to take a day’s leave to “cool off.” The show grappled with falling ratings and challenges in securing high-profile guests.
Lemon’s position worsened after a December 2022 broadcast in which he claimed that men’s soccer was “more interesting to watch” than women’s soccer, resulting in immediate on-air reproval from his co-hosts. His confrontational interview with Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy further raised concerns about his on-air behavior and ability to maintain impartiality.
In February 2024, CNN reached a settlement with Lemon after months of negotiations. Though specific terms were kept confidential, financial disclosures suggest the network agreed to pay his full salary for the remaining 3.5 years of his contract, totaling approximately $24.5 million.
Post-CNN, Lemon initiated two YouTube shows, “Live at Five” and “Hot Topics at 10,” adopting a more informal style from his home studio. However, his subsequent project, “The Don Lemon Show” on X, was abruptly terminated when platform owner Elon Musk ended the collaboration, prompting Lemon to take legal action.
The termination of Lemon coincided with broader changes at CNN under new leadership. Network executives concluded his role had become unsustainable after repeated controversies and their effect on advertising revenue. In the first quarter of 2023, “CNN This Morning” averaged only 359,000 viewers, significantly trailing its competitors.
