CNN’s Don Lemon Gets “Day Off” From Morning Coverage Day After Sexist Comment

Don Lemon, CNN This Morning’s host, was absent Friday morning. This is despite his comments on Thursday that he believed that Women are at their prime “in their 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”

Host Kaitlan Collins During Friday’s morning broadcast, Lemon “has the day off,” while Poppy Harlow, who reportedly stormed off set following Lemon’s Thursday comments, was in Salt Lake City for the NBA All-Star Game.

According to Fox News, Lemon’s absence from the Friday show was reportedly planned in advance of his comments, being set to take an extended weekend vacation.

At the end of Thursday’s show, Lemon told viewers “have a great weekend.” He is expected back to the show Monday.

Lemon said that Haley should be taking annual mental competency tests for politicians over 75. “isn’t in her prime, sorry.”

“A woman is considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,” He said: 

Harlow, 40, questioned, “Prime for what?” 

Lemon spoke to Harlow and the viewers “Google it” It’s not about “shoot the messenger.” 

“I’m just saying what the facts are. Google it. Everybody at home, when is a woman in her prime, it says 20s, 30s, and40s,” He said. “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.”

Lemon is expected to discuss his comments with CNN colleagues on Friday morning.

The following is an extract from the New York PostSources claim that Harlow walked off set after comments. One source claimed that Harlow took a “well time” Bathroom break, followed by Collins into the bathroom.

According to a CNN insider, the comments could be the last straw for Lemon and Chris Licht, the CNN CEO who took over last year.

“Chris isn’t happy and he has spoken to Don a couple times today,” According to a network source, the information was provided on Thursday. “Don knows it can’t happen again.”

In informal settings “Coffee with Chris” meeting on Thursday, 30 staffers raised questions with the CEO, with one asking about Lemon’s comments.

“People say stupid things and that if it’s a trend, then there’s recourse,” the source with knowledge of the meeting said, paraphrasing Licht’s comments.

Lemon wrote a tweet about his comments on Thursday afternoon. He stated that it was “inartful and irrelevant.”

“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,” Lemon shared his thoughts on Twitter.

Lemon’s post reportedly came in response to feedback he received from female colleagues, with Licht supporting the idea of Lemon issuing a statement, a network insider told Fox News.

In response to Lemon’s statement, Twitter users doubled down on their disapproval, including Haley.

“To be clear, I am NOT calling for competency tests for Sexist middle-aged CNN anchors; only for people who make our laws and are 75+,” Haley wrote.

Mellissa Melendez, a California state senator wrote. “It wasn’t ‘inartful.’ It was a deliberate statement directed toward only those with whom you differ politically. In Don’s world I’m past my prime. Too bad for those who think like him, I and many others ‘my age’ are nowhere near being done.”

“I believe he regrets saying it and he’s sorry he did it on national television. But I believe he meant what he said when he said it and he believes it’s true.

This man treats his female cohosts as if they were garbage. CNN coddles and ignores his hostilities towards women,” Attorney Marina Medvin wrote.

“Predictable. And worst apology ever. [Don Lemon] Try the words, ‘I’m sorry…for being a left-wing misogynist,'” Sen. Ted Cruz wrote. 

Lemon was, however, moved from his Primetime slot After months of low viewership, September last year was a record month.

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