Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor, recently voiced strong criticism against his one-time employer, following a bitter parting from the network’s New York, New York headquarters in April 2023. This departure marked the end of his 17-year tenure and led to a multi-million-dollar settlement from CNN, surrounded by allegations, denials, and public disputes.
Large television networks and their executives are not fond of outspoken, moderately or left-leaning individuals, Lemon stated in a recent interview. He accused these networks of systematically suppressing voices similar to his, saying they devise ways to eliminate such individuals. He primarily aimed his criticism at the leadership of traditional media.
The final controversy involving Lemon at CNN began when he asserted that 51-year-old Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was “not in her prime.” This comment, made in February 2023, resulted in an immediate uproar, an official reprimand from CNN’s leadership, and culminated in his removal two months later. While Lemon described his termination as unforeseen, CNN Chairman and CEO Chris Licht stated they had extended an invitation to Lemon to meet with management prior to the decision.
An extensive Variety investigation revealed long-standing workplace issues. Several sources outlined incidents involving female coworkers, including an in-house probe into alleged menacing text messages sent to former co-anchor Kyra Phillips. The report detailed allegations of Lemon ridiculing fellow anchors Nancy Grace and Soledad O’Brien on air, making derogatory remarks about their appearances, and causing damage to office property in fits of rage. Despite these issues, Lemon’s position remained secure under the tenure of former CNN president Jeff Zucker, which ended in February 2022.
In late 2022, CNN reassigned Lemon from his prime-time slot to co-host “CNN This Morning” with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. The transition was fraught with difficulties. In February 2023, following a disagreement over interruptions during an interview, Lemon allegedly “screamed” at Collins off-camera, which led to network management directing him to take a day off to “cool off.” The show contended with declining viewership and challenges in securing high-profile guests.
Lemon’s standing further declined following a December 2022 broadcast in which he stated that men’s soccer was “more interesting to watch” than women’s soccer, eliciting immediate on-air rebuttals from his co-hosts. A subsequent combative interview with Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy exacerbated concerns about his on-air behavior and his ability to remain impartial.
In February 2024, following months of negotiations, CNN reached a settlement with Lemon. Although the specific terms were kept confidential, financial reports suggest the network agreed to pay his full salary for the remaining 3.5 years of his contract, equivalent to roughly $24.5 million.
After leaving CNN, Lemon launched two YouTube shows, “Live at Five” and “Hot Topics at 10,” adopting a more casual format from his home studio. His subsequent venture, “The Don Lemon Show” on X, ended suddenly when platform owner Elon Musk terminated the partnership, leading Lemon to initiate legal proceedings.
Lemon’s dismissal coincided with wider changes at CNN under new leadership. Network executives determined his position had become unsustainable following repeated controversies and their impact on advertising revenue. In the first quarter of 2023, “CNN This Morning” averaged a mere 359,000 viewers, trailing significantly behind its competitors.