CNN's popular anchor fired

Lemon added that he was "stunned" by the move and that he was not directly informed by CNN of the termination.

Longtime host Don Lemon. Photo: Reuters

"This morning, my agent informed me that I had been terminated by CNN. I was completely stunned," Lemon said.

"After 17 years at CNN, I thought someone in management would have the kindness to tell me straight. I never gave any indication that I wouldn't be able to continue doing the work I love here," he added.

In a statement of its own, CNN said it and Lemon had parted ways. It added that Lemon had been offered a chance to meet with the network's management but instead issued a statement on his personal Twitter account.

Lemon joined CNN in 2006. He hosted the primetime show "Don Lemon Tonight" for more than eight years and rose to prominence during Donald Trump's presidency for his commentary on the former Republican president. Trump welcomed Lemon's departure from CNN on his Truth Social platform.

Lemon faced harsh criticism earlier this year for comments made during a discussion about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley's proposal that people over the age of 75 who want to serve in the White House must demonstrate mental capacity.

He said Haley was not in her prime and that women's prime was in their 20s, 30s or "maybe 40s." He later apologized for the sexist comments. In response to Lemon's departure from CNN, Haley tweeted on Monday: "A great day for women everywhere."

CNN's top boss Chris Licht said the show, hosted by Lemon with journalists Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow, would continue with another anchor and that CNN was "committed to its success."

Mai Anh (according to CNN, Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nguoi-dan-chuong-trinh-noi-tieng-cua-cnn-bi-sa-thai-trong-tranh-cai-post245135.html