“CNN This Morning” co-anchors Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow opened their show Tuesday morning by singing the praises for their ousted colleague Don Lemon and wishing him “the best.”
Harlow read the statement that CNN had released Monday announcing that the network was parting ways with Lemon.
“In a statement, CNN CEO Chris Licht thanks Don for his contributions over the past 17 years writing in part, ‘Don will forever be a part of the CNN family. We wish him well. And we’ll be cheering him on in his future endeavors,” she said.
Harlow said Lemon “was one of my first friends here at CNN.”
“I’m so thankful to have worked alongside him and for his support for nearly 15 years here, and I wish him all good things ahead,” she said.
“Our priority is you — the viewer — who gratefully welcomed us into your home this morning,” Harlow added.
Collins said “Don was a big part of this show over the last six months. He was one of the first anchors on CNN to have me on his show.
“That’s something I’ll obviously never forget. I agree with Chris. We wish him the best,” she added.
On Monday, Lemon fired off a tweet in which he claimed he was blindsided by the news over his ouster.
“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned after 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have the decency to tell me directly,” he wrote.
“At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play,” Lemon added.
CNN later refuted his comments.
“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate,” the network tweeted. “He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
In February, Lemon came under fire after saying on air that 51-year-old GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley was not “in her prime.”
The Post also reported that he yelled at Collins after a tense on-air segment in December.
And on Friday, The Post reported that White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to be interviewed by the controversial anchor.
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