Don Lemon, co-host of CNN This Morning, returned to work on Wednesday, February 22, and is expected to undergo “formal training” following his remarks about GOP Presidential candidate Nikki Haley in February.
CNN CEO Chris Licht announced Lemon’s return to the show in a company-wide email on Monday evening. Although Licht did not specify what type of training Lemon would receive, he did state that the network needed to strike a balance between accountability and promoting a healthy working atmosphere in which employees could own their mistakes and eventually learn and grow from them.
Lemon was last seen on the air on Thursday, when he stated that Haley, 51, was not in her “prime.” The moderators of “CNN This Morning” were debating Haley’s recommendation that lawmakers over the age of 75 vying for office be subjected to rigorous competency testing. Lemon received a lot of criticism from his co-hosts.
He was also heavily criticized following his remarks, with politicians, comedians, and political analysts asking for his dismissal. Later that day, he released an apology statement.
Lemon’s statements, according to Haley, were misogynistic.
CNN CEO Jeff Licht summoned Lemon to an editorial meeting on Friday, where he apologized to his colleagues for his disturbing remarks.
Licht stated in an email sent on Monday that he and Lemon met and talked, and that he agreed to partake in what he called “formal training.”