After three days without being able to go to work, anchor Don Lemon returned to CNN's airwaves on Wednesday. The network had decided to remove the CNN This Morning host after he had made comments deemed sexist last week against Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election, Nikki Haley.
It happened during a moment when Lemon was commenting on current events with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. When it came time to comment on one of the former South Carolina governor's latest statements, in which she asserted that there should be mental competency tests for politicians running for the White House who are over the age of 75, disaster struck. Lemon claimed that the 51-year-old Republican "isn’t in her prime," hinting that she is also old.
Once he realized his mistake he tried to justify himself by assuring that a woman only "is considered to be in her prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s." However, the damage was already done and the Republican expressed her discomfort through a tweet:
Liberals can't stand the idea of having competency tests for older politicians to make sure they can do the job.
BTW it's always the liberals who are the most sexist. pic.twitter.com/PzpniQFLff
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 16, 2023
The consequences of his words were swift. First it was through Twitter where women like Janice Dean, Karol Marcowicz, Katrina Pierson and Republican Mayra Flores showed their support for Nikki Haley:
I just "googled" and found out that I'm a year older than @NikkiHaley.
According to @donlemon all women aged 50 and up are "past our prime!"
I'd argue we're just getting started!
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) February 16, 2023
If a Fox News host said this, Don Lemon would call for them to be fired. https://t.co/1yXFWKnhYn
— Karol Markowicz (@karol) February 16, 2023
Absurd! @donlemon owes ALL biological women an apology. Eligibility age for POTUS is 35 years old, so he’s inferring that women have a 5 year window, maybe 10, to properly be considered a viable Presidential candidate?
How old was Hillary Clinton? Oh wait @NikkiHaley is a R. 🙄 https://t.co/1qKbwHIrtH
— Katrina Pierson (@KatrinaPierson) February 16, 2023
@NikkiHaley is in her prime and I encourage all women of all ages not to allow your age to stop you from pursuing your dreams.
— Mayra Flores (@MayraFlores2022) February 17, 2023
Lemon publicly apologizes after being removed from the program
In response, Don Lemon issued a public apology via his Twitter profile and admitted that his comments, described by many as sexist, had been inappropriate and irresponsible:
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
However, CNN had already made its decision and removed him from the program. Until Wednesday. It was the network itself who announced on Tuesday that, after a meeting with the CEO of CNN, Chris Licht, Don Lemon would resume his work as a presenter. However, they are committed to formal training to prevent this situation from recurring:
I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation. He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously. It is important to me that CNN balances accountability with … fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes. To that end, Don will return to CNN This Morning on Wednesday.
A condition that Don Lemon accepted without hesitation. In fact, he was grateful to be able to return as host of CNN This Morning while, again, apologizing again for his comments to Nikki Haley:
I appreciate the opportunity to be back on @CNNThisMorning today. To my network, my colleagues and our incredible audience — I’m sorry. I’ve heard you, I’m learning from you, and I’m committed to doing better.
See you soon.— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 22, 2023
