Don Lemon claims he’s been ousted from CNN after 17 years

For The Independent, Clémence Michallon previously argued that the Don Lemon scandal over his infamous Nikki Haley comments was not a scandal at all.

Find out her reasoning here:

Michelle Yeoh referenced Lemon’s misogynistic comments at the 2023 Oscars in March.

Lemon had faced backlash for suggesting that 51-year-old presidential candidate Nikki Haley was “past her prime”.

Taking the stage to accept her award for Best Actress, Yeoh told the audience: “Ladies, don’t ever let anyone tell you you are ever past your prime. Never give up!”

Earlier this month, Lemon strongly denied recent accusations lodged against him, which included claims of workplace misogyny and “diva-like behaviour”.

In a damning report from Variety, several sources alleged he had disrespected CNN co-hosts Nancy Grace and broadcaster Soledad O’Brien, among other things.

Responding to the allegations in a statement to Mediaite, a spokesperson for Lemon said: “The story, which is riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete evidence, is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip. It’s amazing and disappointing that Variety would be so reckless.”

In a wild coincidence, Fox News’ Tucker Carlson and Lemon were fired from their networks on the same day.

The two previously traded blows over Lemon’s wealth and experience of racism.

Lemon tweeted the news of his departure on Monday.

In a typed statement shared on Twitter, Lemon said no one at CNN had the “decency” to inform him of his departure in advance. CNN has called Lemon’s sentiments “inaccurate”.

You can read his full, typed statement here:

“Good News: ‘The dumbest man on television,’ Don Lemon, has finally been fired from Fake News CNN,” Donald Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social on Monday.

He added, “My only question is, WHAT TOOK THEM SO LONG?”

Lemon, who had been a host on CNN since 2014, was an outspoken critic of Trump.

Nikki Haley, the presidential candidate whom Lemon said was “past her prime” on-air this February, is celebrating the anchor’s departure.

On Twitter, Haley posted a graphic that showed two cans of lemonade enveloped in koozies that read, “Past my prime?” and “Hold my beer”.

While the statement offered no explanation for the sudden departure, it comes after Lemon has been mired in a string of controversies in recent months – with accusations of making offensive on-air comments about women and of mistreating female coworkers off-camera.

Lemon took to Twitter to accuse the network of failing to tell him in person and instead leaving it to his agent to deliver the news.

However, CNN called Lemon’s statement “inaccurate”, saying it offered him the chance to speak to management.

Before joining CNN 17 years ago, Lemon jumped between several other news anchor gigs. He also joined the profession surprisingly late.

The Independent has put together Lemon’s career timeline, from his first job in journalism to his dismissal from CNN.

According to The New York Times, several CNN leaders were left “exasperated” by Lemon’s heated interview with Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy last week.

Lemon and Ramaswarmy fiercely debated the Second Amendment Right to Bear Arms and its role in Black history. At one point, Lemon removed his earpiece as he said he couldn’t hear his subject while producers were talking in his ear.