Final Project

 Don Lemon and CNN Go Their Separate Ways 

 

 

 

It was announced Monday that longtime CNN host Don Lemon was fired from his job. This announcement came without an official explanation as to why Lemon was being fired. The news of Don being fired was viewed as both shocking and unexpected to the public viewers. Apparently, Lemon did a short and unsuccessful run as the show’s morning host nearly two months after he had apologized for making comments on the air about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley being past her prime. The network CNN described the incident as them and Lemon “parting ways” with each other. The actions of Don Lemon could prove to be more of a disadvantage than an advantage for him and his former network company in the end. 

Lemon classified the firing as being a complete surprise to him. His exact words were “I was stunned”. He admitted that he learned of the firing from his agent. Lemon stated that, “After 17 years at CNN I would have thought someone in management would have the decency to tell me directly.” He went on to say that “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”. Based on the statements made by Don Lemon he clearly sees his firing as baffling and brash however, the CNN network paints a different picture. CNN refuted Lemon’s claims by calling his account of the events “inaccurate”. For instance, CNN CEO Chris Licht stated, “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.” The CEO also explained that they were committed to the success of the show. The CNN network claimed that they gave Lemon a chance to discuss the matter with management with the statement, “he was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter”.  

Don Lemon first joined CNN in September of 2006. Before hosting “CNN This Morning”, he hosted a show entitled “Don Lemon Tonight” for over eight years. He rose to fame during former President Donald Trump’s presidency in which he constantly criticized his actions and behavior. Back in February, Lemon was widely criticized for sexist comments he made on “CNN This Morning”. During an on-air discussion about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s proposal that older politicians should have to take competency tests, Lemon argued that Haley who is 51 years of age “isn’t in her prime”. Lemon went on to say that women are “considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s”. Co-anchors Harlow and Collins tried to push back and challenge his statement, but Lemon stood firm on his point of view. This was not the first time that Lemon had issued sexist statements on the air about women. Last fall, Lemon had stated that the U.S. men’s soccer team should be paid more money than the women’s team because men were more “interesting to watch”. Later after the discussion Licht the CEO sent out a memo to the staff calling the comments “unacceptable”. Lemon then apologized for his comments and stated that, “when I make a mistake, I own it”; “and I own this one as well”.  

The comments made by Don Lemon have seem to have done more harm than good for his and his former company’s reputation. The sexist remarks made by Lemon have shed a bad light on The CNN Morning News Show. The cast for this show is made up of mostly women and the cast of the show works hard to portray themselves as big happy family. The show’s ratings have had little success in topping more popular shows such as “Fox and Friends and “Morning Joe”. The hostile vibes of the show were beginning to degrade the advertising sales for CNN and change the minds of potential guests who were thinking about appearing on the show. The CNN network has a long road in erasing its tarnished image and restoring its family value with its viewing audience.