By The FirstCNN announced on Monday that they were ending their contract with Don Lemon after a 17 year run at the network. This news came after Lemon had a short, yet controversial tenure as a morning show co-host.
CNN stated that Lemon would always be a part of the CNN family and thanked him for his contributions over the years. According to CNN’s statement, Lemon’s morning show, which he co-hosted with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, would continue. The show, called “CNN This Morning,” had been on the air for almost six months and the network expressed their commitment to its success.
Lemon released a statement on Twitter, making it clear that his departure was not a mutual decision:
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 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.
In a tweet from CNN’s communications team, the network claimed Lemon’s statement was “inaccurate” and that he was, in fact, offered an opportunity to meet with management.
News of Lemon’s termination came just hours after Fox News announced that they were parting ways with Tucker Carlson.
