Don Lemon has been feeling down and believes he is being targeted by his co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlin Collins on the set of “CNN This Morning,” according to a Wednesday report.
The tension on the morning show, which has struggled with ratings, has not eased in recent weeks following Don’s controversy over comments he made about GOP presidential contender Nikki Haley, which many believe were sexist, say sources who spoke to RadarOnline.
“Don is acting like he’s the victim. He is very quiet behind the scenes. He is moping around the joint like he’s the one who has been wronged,” one source said.
“Poppy and Kaitlin have buddied up, and the bond between them is stronger than ever,” said another source, according to the outlet, adding that Lemon feels he’s being “ganged up on.”
Last month during a morning show segment, the trio were talking about the former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor making age an issue during the 2024 campaign, likely a swipe at the ages of both President Joe Biden — who, at 80, struggles at times to communicate — and former President Donald Trump, who is 76.
Lemon said that Haley should not focus on people being in their “prime” because she is not in her “prime” as a woman in her 50s.
“This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable. I think it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry, When a woman is in their prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,” he said before Harlow interrupted.
“What are you talking — Wait…,” she said.
“That’s not according to me,” Lemon responded.
“Prime for what?” Harlow said.
“It depends. It’s just like, prime. If you look it up. If you Google when is a woman in her prime, it’ll say 20s, 30s, 40s,” Lemon said.
“Forties! Oh my God, I have another decade,” Harlow said.
“I’m not saying I agree with that. So I think she has to be careful about saying that, you know, politicians are in their prime,” lemon said, stumbling as he backtracked.
“Are you talking about prime for, like, childbearing? Or are you talking about prime for being president?” Harlow pressed.
“Don’t 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 and 40s. I’m just saying Nikki Haley should careful about saying that politics are not in their prime, and they need to be in their prime when they serve. She would not be in her prime according to Google or whatever it is,” Lemon said.
Don Lemon: "Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry, when a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, and 30s, and maybe 40s…"
Poppy Harlow: "Are you talking about prime for like child bearing?"
"Don’t shoot the messenger! I’m just saying what the facts are! Google it!" pic.twitter.com/n1HmtkWTpl
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 16, 2023
The former evening prime-time host would go on to offer an apology of sorts for his remarks.
“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,” he noted on Twitter.
Following the exchange on-air, an insider told the New York Post that a “furious” Harlow walked off the set.
According to a source, Collins, who has also previously clashed with Lemon, followed her colleague into the restroom during a “well-timed” bathroom break.
The insider suggested that the tense relationship between Lemon, Collins, and Harlow had been simmering for several months, as have previous sources, as the show’s ratings have failed to rise. Additionally, a CNN insider claimed that the recent high-profile incident may prompt network boss Licht to replace Lemon as the co-host of the morning show.
“Chris isn’t happy and he has spoken to Don a couple times today,” the network source told The Post. “Don knows it can’t happen again.”
The Post added:
During an informal meeting Thursday, dubbed “Coffee with Chris,” 30 staffers peppered Licht with questions about the ratings-challenged network. One asked about Lemon’s comments about the 51-year-old Haley, according to a source with knowledge.
“People say stupid things and that if it’s a trend, then there’s recourse,” the source told The Post, summarizing Licht’s comments.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
