CNN Pushes Back at Don Lemon for 'Inaccurate' Twitter Statement About the Way He Was Terminated

On Monday afternoon, shortly aftershocking news brokethatTucker Carlsonwould not be returning to Fox News — effective immediately — CNN’s Lemon, 57, released a heated statement on Twitter announcing that he, too, was no longer employed.

He continued: “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.”

Within the hour, CNN’s public relations team had released a counter statement, accusing Lemon of misrepresenting the way that things went down.

“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate,” CNN Communications tweeted. “He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”

Prior to pushing back on Lemon’s tweet, CNN had released a much more cordial statement, which read: “CNN and Don have parted ways. Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”

Lemon made the remarks during a Feb. 16 episode ofCNN This Morning, while discussing politicians' ages in a segment with co-hostsPoppy Harlow, 40, andKaitlan Collins, 30.

Don Lemon.ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty

Lemon continued, “She says … politicians are not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry. A woman is considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”

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Viewers were quick to call Lemon’s remarks sexist and ageist, with many also highlighting that he is five years older than Haley.

source: people.com