Broadcasting giant, Cable Network News, has fired its longtime host and news anchor, Don Lemon.
Lemon, who worked with the company for 17 years, claimed he was unceremoniously dismissed by the company on Monday.
He expressed shock in a release shared via Twitter, stating that he was not given “any indication” that his employment would be terminated.
“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. 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,” he wrote.
The CNN, however, refuted Lemon’s claims in a tweet, stating that he was “offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
Before his departure, Lemon anchored “CNN This Morning” with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. He earlier hosted the prime-time show “Don Lemon Tonight”, which ran for eight years.
The TV personality came under heavy criticism in February after he made comments deemed sexist by many on the “CNN This Morning” show.
While discussing about Nikki Haley, a presidential candidate who called for mental competency tests for politicians over the age of 75, Lemon argued that the 51-year-old herself “isn’t in her prime”. When challenged by his co-hosts, he doubled down on his claims stating that a woman is only “considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”
Lemon was afterward suspended by the CNN’s management, but was reinstated after tendering his apologies.
A Variety report labelling Lemon a misogynist recently went viral. He vehemently denied the allegations of aggressive and “diva-like” behaviour levelled against him in the report.
