On Monday, February 26, CNN reached a settlement agreement with former anchor Don Lemon, for $24.5 million.
The settlement comes nearly 10 months after Lemon was dismissed from the network following controversial remarks about Nikki Haley, the Republican presidential candidate.
Lemon, 57, had been with CNN for 17 years before his departure in April 2023. The incident occurred on CNN This Morning, where he made the contentious statement about Haley’s age and “prime.” The discussion, which initially aimed to critique Haley’s proposal for competency tests for older politicians, quickly turned controversial as Lemon asserted that women are in their prime in their “20s, 30s, and maybe 40s.” Haley was 51 at the time. Despite the backlash and shock from his co-hosts, Lemon reiterated his stance, leading to his firing.
The payout corresponds to the full amount Lemon would have received had his contract, which was to run three and a half years after his firing, come to an end.
Following his departure from CNN, Lemon expressed his shock and disappointment over how the situation was handled, stating that he was informed of his termination by his agent rather than directly by CNN management. He took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to voice his grievances, stating that he had received no prior indication from the network that his role was in jeopardy. CNN’s communications team contested Lemon’s narrative, emphasizing that he had been offered a chance to meet with management before his public announcement.
Chris Licht, CNN’s CEO at the time of Lemon’s firing, acknowledged Lemon’s 17-year tenure and contributions to the network in an internal message, emphasizing that Lemon would “forever be a part of the CNN family.” However, Licht himself faced criticism and was eventually replaced as CEO after more than 100 CNN employees questioned his leadership capabilities. Mark Thompson took over Licht’s role following his departure.
Lemon’s career at CNN was not without its controversies, including previous accusations of misogyny and a notable incident where he was reported to have caused co-host Kaitlan Collins to leave the set in tears. These incidents contributed to a growing perception of tension within CNN This Morning’s team.
Lemon announced his return to broadcasting in January 2024 with a new show on X, in collaboration with Elon Musk. His new venture, “The Don Lemon Show,” signifies his move to continue his career in a new format, embracing a platform that allows for “honest debate and discussion without the hall monitors,” as Lemon put it.
Although several news outlets have reported about the settling agreement, CNN, however, has flatly denied the report regarding the specifics of the settlement. A spokesperson for the network stated, “While we never comment on specifics of any employee contract, this story is incorrect.”