CNN‘s Don Lemon takes the day off from The Morning Show just one day after he apologized for his ‘sexist’ remarks about women being ‘past their prime’ – amid mounting pressure for him to be fired.
Lemon, 56, made the comments on Thursday’s episode of the show as he and his co-hosts discussed Nikki Haley’s proposal that politicians ages 75 and up should face mental competency tests.
Kaitlan Collins opened the show by saying that their co-host ‘has the day off’ as Poppy Harlow joked that she was going to ‘complain to bosses’ after going to the all-star NBA game in Utah.
Lemon was replaced for the day by Audia Cornish, with the show not acknowledging the comments that he made the day before despite rising calls for him to be squeezed.
Insiders told DailyMail.com that the host is ‘rude, self-righteous and clearly sexist’ adding that ‘his apology meant nothing’.
Kaitlan Collins opened the show by saying that their co-host ‘has the day off’ as Lemon was replaced for the day by Audia Cornish, with the show not acknowledging the comments that he made the day before
Lemon, who is five years older than Haley, 51, said the politician should tread lightly on the topic because ‘a woman is in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s’
It is not the first time in recent weeks that Lemon has found himself in hot water, with CNN boss Chris Licht reportedly coming under pressure to do something about the host’s behavior.
A source said that there was mounting pressure for Lemon to be fired after his continual gaffes on the early-morning show.
They told DailyMail.com: ‘Don has been skating on thin ice for so long and many wanted him fired in December when he freaked out on Kaitlin Collins for no reason. She was in tears and it was so inappropriate.
‘Regardless of his political affiliation, his comments that Nikki Haley being past her prime were disgusting. Poppy was fuming, as she should be, and still is.
‘He is rude, self-righteous and clearly sexist. Nikki did the right thing by calling him out.
‘His apology meant nothing and there is so much pressure for him to be canned. It would be a shock if he wasn’t.’
CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com, but the hosts did reference that Lemon would be missing from the show on Thursday.
They said: ‘A special treat. Audie is going to be joining us tomorrow, Don’s going to be off, Poppy is going to be on assignment anchoring from Salt Lake City.’
Poppy Harlow joked that she was going to ‘complain to bosses’ after going to the all-star NBA game in Utah
Collins was also quick to sing the praises of Cornish, her co-host for a day, by posting a picture of them together on her Instagram
However, the announcement came two hours after his initial comments during a 6.30am segment of the show – with Lemon laughing and telling Audie ‘this is a hot seat, I hope you can handle it.’
Collins was also quick to sing the praises of Cornish, her co-host for a day, by posting a picture of them together on her Instagram.
Harlow, Lemon and Collins had been discussing Haley’s proposal during a speech on Wednesday where she announced her run for president.
Lemon, who is five years older than Haley, 51, said the politician should tread lightly on the topic because ‘a woman is in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.’
Haley herself responded to Lemon’s comments, saying: ‘It’s always the liberals who are the most sexist’ in a tweet with a clip of the video segment.
Lemon apologized for his comments on Thursdays show, and tweeted: ‘The reference I made to a woman’s ‘prime’ this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and loved ones have pointed out, and I regret it.
‘A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.’
A furious Harlow reportedly stormed off the set following the ‘sexist’ exchange on Thursday, sources told the New York Post.
Harlow took a ‘well timed’ bathroom break and was followed into the bathroom by Kaitlan Collins – with the source adding the tense relationship has been ‘smoldering for months’.
Lemon, 56, went ‘ballistic’ at staffers who highlighted the spat with Collins, according to RadarOnline – with the host claiming she ‘interrupted him’ during a December broadcast
During the morning show, Lemon kicked off his comments by saying discussing the merits of age in politics was ‘the wrong road to go down,’ then quickly went down that road.
He said: ‘She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime.
‘Sorry, when a woman is in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.’
Harlow cut Lemon off, asking ‘What are you talking about? Prime for what?’ before Lemon pressed on while insisting ‘That’s not according to me.’
Lemon ploughed on: ‘It depends. It’s just like, prime. If you look it up. If you Google ‘What is a woman in her prime,’ it’ll say 20s, 30s, 40s.
‘I’m not saying I agree with that. So, I think she has to be careful about saying that, you know, politicians are in their prime.’
Harlow then asked: ‘Are you talking about prime for, like, childbearing? Or are you talking about prime for being president?’
‘Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are,’ Lemon responded. ‘Google it. Everybody at home, when is a woman in her prime? It says 20s, 30s and 40s.’
Harlow took a ‘well timed’ bathroom break and was followed into the bathroom by Kaitlan Collins – with the source adding the tense relationship has been ‘smoldering for months’
Lemon made his comments on Thursday’s episode of CNN This Morning alongside co-hosts Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow
‘I’m just saying Nikki Haley should be careful about saying that politics are not in their prime, and they need to be in their prime when they serve.
‘She would not be in her prime according to Google or whatever it is.’
Throughout the interaction, Lemon directed all of his comments to Harlow, while Collins remained out of the fray.
Later during the show when CNN podcast host Audie Cornish – who has today replaced him – joined and questioned Lemon’s point, he refused to back down.
Cornish said: ‘The idea of prime that you Google on the internet, that’s about sexual and reproductive prime, that’s not actually about mental health and aging.
‘No one is going look at Nikki Haley and say, ‘is she in her prime or not?”
Lemon responded, ‘Eh, I don’t know.’
Collins had her own run-in with her fellow host, who was seen on camera repeatedly interrupting her throughout the show on December 8.
The CNN This Morning host allegedly made Kaitlan Collins run from the set in tears on December 8 after he berated her in front of the television crew and their other co-host
Lemon used to have his own show Don Lemon Tonight, before Licht canceled it and created the new morning show
Lemon allegedly made Collins run from the set in tears on after he berated her in front of the television crew and their other co-host.
After that, he was reportedly told to take a day to ‘cool off’ by boss Chris Licht but instead blew up on staffers after a company newsletter featured a story about his altercation with the White House Correspondent.
It seems as though he has been given the same advice following his ‘sexism row’, with little explanation being given as to his whereabouts on Friday morning.
Lemon went ‘ballistic’ at staffers who highlighted the spat with Collins, according to RadarOnline – with the host claiming she ‘interrupted him’ during a December broadcast.
Following the initial spat, Lemon traveled to Beverly Hills with his partner Tim Malone, for the Grammys.
The pair traveled from New York to Los Angeles for the Grammys and seemed to be enjoying the sunshine in the Golden State – ignoring the drama unfolding at home.
He traveled to Beverly Hills with his partner Tim Malone for the Grammys after reports of the row with Collins
Collins, 30, the youngest chief White House Correspondent in the history of CNN, reportedly wants to be on set with the anchor ‘as little as possible’ after the incident.
The argument took place off-camera on December 8, which left Collins ‘visibly upset’ and other members of staff ‘shaken ‘by his outburst.
Both Collins and Lemon are both represented by agent Jay Sures, with their fellow anchor Poppy Harlow witnessing the initial heated exchange.
Collins and Lemon have starred alongside each other on the show since it started three months ago.
The pair, along with Harlow, used to arrive to red carpets and events as a unit but now appear to arrive separately and seem to want to stay far away from each other.
While it’s unclear whether Collins intentionally interrupted Lemon, one source referred to him as ‘bossy’ and ‘difficult to work with.’
Lemon used to have his own show – Don Lemon Tonight – before Licht canceled it and created the new morning show.
Collins, 30, the youngest chief White House Correspondent on CNN, reportedly wants to be on set with the anchor ‘as little as possible’ after the incident. Pictured: Lemon with co-stars Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins at an NBA game
CNN boss Licht previously promised to give the company a makeover since his take over last year but seems to have had little impact.
There have been a number of changes at the broadcaster, with the executive producer of CNN This Morning, Eric Hall, being ousted and moved to a new role at CNN tonight.
When his 10pm show, Don Lemon Tonight, was canceled amid lackluster ratings last year, Lemon initially said that the move to mornings was not a ‘demotion’.
A rep from CNN declined to comment on the incident but said: ‘In just three months, these anchors have created a compelling morning show that breaks news and drives the conversation.’
Since the incident in December, Lemon has been sent to Memphis and on other assignments, while Collins worked remotely from Washington DC on several occasions in January.
Lemon’s December blow-up isn’t the first wrong move he’s made while adjusting to sharing the limelight with his new colleagues.
A week prior he was shot down by Collins and Harlow after they accused him of mansplaining why the US men’s soccer team should get paid more – despite their lack of success.
He insisted that he was joking when he said that men were ‘more interesting to watch’- with the interaction making for awkward viewing.
CNN This Morning has suffered a ratings bomb and early last month experienced its least-viewed week since launch, averaging just over 330,000 viewers.
CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com, but the hosts did reference that Lemon would be missing from the show on Thursday.They said: ‘A special treat. Audie is going to be joining us tomorrow, Don’s going to be off, Poppy is going to be on assignment anchoring from Salt Lake City.’
