Don Lemon Makes Another Apology Before His Return to Air, But Twitter Users Quickly Point Out What's Missing
CNN anchor Don Lemon tweeted an apology to viewers for his remarks about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley shortly before returning to work on Wednesday, then stuck to the news.
He made no mention of his comments last week that Haley was not in “her prime” during “CNN This Morning,” instead reporting on stories such as President Joe Biden’s trip to Ukraine, the Ohio train derailment and winter weather.
Lemon, within the hour before he went on the air, tweeted that he appreciated the opportunity to return to work. He was absent for three days.
“To my network, my colleagues and our incredible audience — I’m sorry,” he tweeted. “I’ve heard you, I’m learning from you, and I’m committed to doing better.”
I appreciate the opportunity to be back on @CNNThisMorning today. To my network, my colleagues and our incredible audience — I’m sorry. I’ve heard you, I’m learning from you, and I’m committed to doing better.
See you soon.— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 22, 2023
His tweet made no mention of Haley, as many on Twitter pointed out.
Weird how you didn’t mention the woman you directly insulted.
— Julie Gunlock (@JGunlock) February 22, 2023
You still can’t bring yourself to apologize to the person you originally offended. Good luck with that “training”
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) February 22, 2023
Still something missing here.
— Autumn Johnson (@LegallyAutumn) February 22, 2023
The former South Carolina governor has called Lemon’s comments “sexist” and has been referring to them in fundraising appeals.
Liberals can’t stand the idea of having competency tests for older politicians to make sure they can do the job.
BTW it’s always the liberals who are the most sexist. pic.twitter.com/PzpniQFLff
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 16, 2023
On Thursday’s show, Lemon and fellow hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins had been discussing Haley’s suggestion that politicians over 75 should be subject to mandatory mental competency tests.
“Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry,” Lemon said. He said a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s. Haley is 51.
He doubled down on his message even after being challenged by his female colleagues.
“I think we need to qualify,” Harlow said at one point. “Are you talking about prime for childbearing or are you talking about prime for being president?”
Lemon told his female co-anchors not to “shoot the messenger.”
“That’s not according to me,” he said. “If you Google ‘when is a woman in her prime,’ it’ll say 20s, 30s and 40s. I’m not saying I agree with it.”
After video of his comments spread quickly online, Lemon tweeted regret for his “inartful and irrelevant” comments.
The reference I made to a woman’s “prime” this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and loved ones have pointed out, and I regret it. A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 16, 2023
He was scolded the next day by CNN chief executive Chris Licht during an internal staff meeting and appeared on the call to apologize.
Late Sunday, Licht told staff members in a memo that Lemon would return to work and undergo unspecified “formal training.”
Licht said in the memo, obtained by The Associated Press, that it was important that the network balance accountability with fostering a culture in which people “can own, learn and grow from their mistakes.”
Lemon was switched from his own prime-time show when a revamped “CNN This Morning” was launched in November, one of Licht’s biggest swings since taking control of the network last year.
Between poor ratings and awkwardness between the new anchor team, it hasn’t gone well.
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
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