Don Lemon.Photo: ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty
The news ofDon Lemon’ssudden termination from CNNcame as a shock to the longtime anchor, he said in a statement Monday — though some are suggesting that it wasn’t too surprising considering the news personality’srecent controversies, including one interview that reportedly put staffers on edge.
Eyebrows were raised last week during a confrontational interview Lemon had with Republican presidential candidateVivek Ramaswamy, himself a controversial figure who has echoed the views of many far-right Republicans.
Also during the interview, the anchor frustratedly removed his earpiece while producers were trying to speak to him, and his co-hostPoppy Harlowlooked down at her phone uncomfortably. At the end of their exchange, Harlow said they look forward to having Ramaswamy back on the show and Lemon reportedly snapped, “Can we move on now, please?”
Ramaswamy himself told Fox News Digital he felt the exchange “played a role” in Lemon’s ouster.
Regardless of the exchange, sources tell PEOPLE that Lemon’s former colleagues at the network are reeling and that no one knew the longtime television personality would soon be fired — a feeling Lemon himself echoed in his statement posted to Twitter Monday.
Lemon continued: “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 have loved at the network. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play.”
CNN has since refuted Lemon’s account, saying in a statement that he was “offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
In the time since Lemon’s ousting, CNN has not offered an official explanation of what triggered the firing.
Shortly after the sudden termination was announced, one source told PEOPLE that many at the network were taken aback. “No one knew this was coming. No one. Everyone is floored at the way this was handled and how he was treated.”
But Lemon’s relationship with CNN showed recent signs of strain even before the Ramaswamy interview.
In February, he made headlines during an episode ofCNN This Morningin which he discussed politicians' agesin a segment with co-hosts Harlow, 40, andKaitlan Collins, 30.
“Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry,” Lemon said in the episode. “A woman is considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”
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source: people.com
