CNN’s Don Lemon is desperately trying to save his job by halfheartedly attempting to contain the fallout from his sexist, anti-women behavior at the network.
Lemon was already on thin ice for “screaming” at his doomed morning show co-host Kaitlan Collins in late December.
Collins was devastated by his behavior and the entire staff was reportedly “rattled.”
However, reports have continued to emerge about Lemon being aggressive and disrespectful toward women.
On Thursday, Lemon tried to take a swipe at Nikky Haley by commenting on her age but ended up trashing women in general.
Lemon tried to claim that Haley is not “in her prime” because she is 51 years old.
He then tried to argue that women are “in their prime in their 20s and 30s.”
Lemon then realized that the claim excluded his female co-hosts before adding, “and maybe their 40s.”
He said: “I’m just saying what the facts are. Google it.
“Everybody at home, when is a woman in her prime, it says 20s, 30s, and 40s.
“And I’m just saying Nikki Haley should be careful about saying that politicians are not in their prime, and they need to be in their prime when they serve.
“Because she wouldn’t be in her prime according to Google or whatever it is.”
After the backlash, Lemon panicked and called into a CNN staff meeting to issue a groveling apology.
“I’m sorry I don’t mean to hurt anyone,” he reportedly said.
“I did not mean to offend anyone.
“What I said came out wrong and I wish I hadn’t said it.
“I believe women of any age can do anything they set their minds to.
“The people I am closest to in this organization are women.
“When I make a mistake,” he said.
“I own it and I own this one as well.
“I understand why you are upset and disappointed.
“I was trying to make the point that no one’s age should define their ambition or potential for success and I was saying those comments to Nikki Haley.”
Lemon’s boss, CNN CEO Chris Licht, scolded the embattled host, saying the comments were “upsetting, unacceptable and unfair and a huge distraction.”
According to TMZ, CNN Employees were not buying it and stabbed in him the back by leaking what was said after he left the call:
Don Lemon jumped on a CNN staff call Friday morning to apologize for his sexist on-air comment Thursday that women are not in their prime after their 40s … but it did not go over well.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … Don jumped on for only 90 seconds to address what he said about Nikki Haley and, for that matter, all women.
We’re told some people on the call talked afterward and called Don “tone deaf,” with one saying it looks like Don was giving himself kudos for owning his mistake.
NEW: Don Lemon issued a desperate apology to his CNN colleagues on the network’s morning editorial call: ‘I believe women of any age can do anything’ https://t.co/pRugbvPwel
— Joseph A. Wulfsohn (@JosephWulfsohn) February 17, 2023
Looks like sexist Don Lemon “has the day off.” Maybe he’ll use his free time to google what an actual apology looks like.pic.twitter.com/P3e52u8A7N
— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) February 17, 2023
