Former CNN anchor Don Lemon left the network in April 2023, marking the end of his 17-year tenure. His exit from CNN’s New York headquarters was followed by public disputes, allegations, and refutations, ultimately leading to a substantial settlement.
“Big TV networks and their executives don’t like big mouth, sort of middle or left-leaning people,” Lemon professed in a subsequent interview, blaming networks for systematically muffling voices. “They find ways to get rid of them,” he continued, directing his frustration at conventional media leadership.
Lemon’s final issue at CNN began when he asserted that Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, 51, was “not in her prime.” The comment in February 2023 ignited immediate backlash, a formal censure from CNN’s top brass, and ultimately contributed to his firing two months later. Despite Lemon’s depiction of his firing as unforeseen, CNN Chairman and CEO Chris Licht stated they had offered him a chance to consult with management before the decision.
An extensive Variety investigation revealed longstanding workplace friction. Numerous sources recounted incidents with female colleagues, including a probe into alleged menacing texts sent to ex-co-anchor Kyra Phillips. The report chronicled claims of Lemon ridiculing fellow anchors Nancy Grace and Soledad O’Brien on air, making derogatory comments about their looks, and damaging office property in bouts of rage.
Regardless of these scandals, Lemon’s position was stable under the reign of then-CNN president Jeff Zucker, which concluded in February 2022.
In late 2022, CNN switched Lemon from his evening slot to co-host “CNN This Morning” with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. The shift was fraught with difficulties. In February 2023, following a disagreement over interview interruptions, Lemon reportedly “yelled” at Collins off-camera, prompting network management to instruct him to take a day’s leave to “cool off.” The show grappled with falling ratings and challenges in securing high-profile guests.
His position further worsened after a December 2022 broadcast where he stated that men’s soccer was “more interesting to watch” than women’s soccer, eliciting immediate on-air rebuttals from his co-hosts. A subsequent adversarial interview with Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy escalated concerns about his on-air behavior and impartiality.
CNN reached a settlement with Lemon in February 2024 after months of negotiations. While specific terms were kept under wraps, financial documents indicate the network consented to pay his full salary for the remaining 3.5 years of his contract, totaling roughly $24.5 million.
Post-CNN, Lemon started two YouTube shows, “Live at Five” and “Hot Topics at 10,” adopting a more relaxed style from his home studio. His subsequent endeavor, “The Don Lemon Show” on X, was abruptly terminated when platform owner Elon Musk ended the collaboration, prompting Lemon to initiate legal proceedings.
Don Lemon’s termination coincided with broader changes at CNN under new management, as network leaders deemed his position unsustainable due to repeated scandals and their impact on advertising revenue. During the first quarter of 2023, “CNN This Morning” averaged 359,000 viewers, falling far behind its competitors.