CNN host Don Lemon has caved after receiving universal backlash for insulting women on his doomed morning show.
During a conversation about the 2024 election, Lemon made disrespectful comments about presidential candidate Nikky Haley and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Lemon, one of the three anchors of “CNN This Morning,” apologized Thursday afternoon for remarks made on the morning’s broadcast.
He made remarks about women being “in their prime” during a segment about Haley when he commented on the age of some of her political rivals.
“She says people, you know, politicians or something are not in their prime,” Lemon said on the program.
“Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry.
“A woman is considered to be in their prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”
The comment spurred co-anchor Poppy Harlow to try to get Lemon to modify his stance.
“What are you talking about, wait — prime for what?” she asked.
The move resulted in Lemon stepping even further into his position.
“If you Google ‘when is a woman in her prime,’ it’ll say; 20s, 30s, and 40s,” he replied.
Haley is 51 while Biden is 80, Kamala Harris is 58, and Hillary Clinton is in her later 70s.
WATCH:
Don Lemon: "Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry, when a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, and 30s, and maybe 40s…"
Poppy Harlow: "Are you talking about prime for like child bearing?"
"Don’t shoot the messenger! I’m just saying what the facts are! Google it!" pic.twitter.com/n1HmtkWTpl
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 16, 2023
Lemon came clean on social media with a weak apology:
“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.”
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.
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 16, 2023
The on-air dust-up has drawn attention both inside and outside the Warner Bros. Discovery cable news outlet.
Younger staffers have reportedly been taking offense and others asking how CNN can try to book prominent female politicians and newsmakers after one of its best-known anchors seemed to inveigh against older women.
Meanwhile, many prominent figures have been calling on CNN to fire Lemon over his aggressive and disrespectful behavior toward women.
The absolute, utter, visceral resentment that Don Lemon has for his co-hosts for ruining his spotlight — and the contempt they return to him as a result — is one of the first entertaining things CNN has broadcast in years. I honestly can’t get enough: https://t.co/hRuAaNAOsN
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) February 16, 2023
Don Lemon says Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime as a politician because she’s not in her 20’s, 30’s or 40’s. Holy shit. She’s only 51! Biden’s 80! This may be the dumbest thing ever said on CNN. And I love that he cited Google as his source: pic.twitter.com/l1CzTYlkjX
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 16, 2023
As Slay News reported, former Fox News star Megyn Kelly argues that Lemon’s behavior is part of a pattern.
Kelly says he expects more women to come forward with complaints and likens the scandal to the “MeToo” movement.
READ MORE: Don Lemon Under Fire for New ‘Sexist’ Comment on CNN
