On Monday (April 24), CNN announced that Don Lemon has been fired after 17 years at the network, a move that the anchor said has left him “stunned.”
“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN,” Lemon said in a statement posted to his Twitter account. “I am stunned. 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 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.”
A few minutes later, CNN also posted a statement on Twitter that reads, “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.”
While the statement gives no explanation for the sudden departure, the news comes after Variety’s story, that was published earlier this month, on allegations that Lemon mistreated his female colleagues over the course of his career at CNN. He also faced backlash earlier this year for making offensive comments about women on-air.
Lemon hosted “CNN This Morning,” which has been on the air for almost six years.
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