don lemon fired from cnn why

Don Lemon was fired from CNN in April 2023 after 17 years with the network, mainly because of a combination of on‑air controversies, accusations of misogynistic behavior toward colleagues, and declining guest and viewer confidence in him.

Main reasons he was let go

• Controversial on‑air remarks : Lemon sparked backlash for saying Republican Nikki Haley, then 51, was “not in her prime,” which many interpreted as ageist and sexist; the comment drew criticism from public figures and viewers and reportedly made some guests reluctant to appear with him.

• Allegations of workplace behavior : A report by Variety detailed accusations that Lemon had engaged in misogynistic conduct , including mocking or belittling female colleagues, calling a producer “fat,” and sending threatening texts; CNN did not publicly confirm the details but did not dispute that these issues contributed to the decision.

• Guest‑booking and ratings problems : Internal reports indicated that guests were increasingly unwilling to sit with Lemon , and his show, CNN This Morning , was struggling in the ratings against rivals like Fox & Friends and Morning Joe.

How CNN framed it

CNN’s then‑CEO Chris Licht stated only that Lemon and the network had “parted ways,” without spelling out a single cause. Lemon said he was stunned and blindsided , claiming he was never told directly and that his contract ran until 2026; CNN countered that he had been offered a meeting with management and characterized his version as “inaccurate.”

Lemon’s own take

In later interviews, Lemon has described the firing as shocking but also “well‑timed” , arguing that there was a coordinated effort to damage his reputation and that he still feels targeted by “cancel culture” dynamics. He has also acknowledged that his comments about Haley were “inartful” and apologized to colleagues, though he continues to dispute some of the workplace allegations.

Quick overview table

Aspect| What happened
---|---
Timing| Fired on April 24, 2023, after 17 years at CNN. 13
Trigger comment| Saying Nikki Haley was “not in her prime,” viewed as sexist/ageist. 189
Workplace issues| Accusations of misogyny and mistreatment of female colleagues. 135
Business impact| Guests hesitated to appear with him; show ratings lagged. 138
CNN’s stance| “Parted ways” with no detailed public explanation. 358

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.