CNN Anchor Don Lemon’s Ups and Downs

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CNN Anchor Don Lemon’s Ups and Downs

When the news anchor becomes the news. From drunken antics on New Year’s Eve to backlash for sexist remarks, Don Lemon made waves during his time at CNN. After making a name for himself through his reporting at several Fox and NBC affiliates through the years, Lemon joined CNN in 2006 and became a prominent host on the network in 2014. One year later, Lemon sparked controversy when he held up a sign with the N-word written in large letters amid a debate about then-President Barack Obama using the term on Marc Maron‘s “WTF” podcast. Lemon continued to make headlines for onscreen antics — including getting his ears pierced after several shots during CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live broadcast in 2016. Still, the journalist’s career continued to flourish as he went on to host Don Lemon Tonight from 2014 to 2022. In 2022, the network announced CNN This Morning — a new show he would anchor alongside Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow. That February, Lemon came under fire when he shaded former governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley after she announced plans to run for president. “She says people, politicians are not in their prime. … Nikki Haley is not in her prime, sorry. A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s,” Lemon said during the February 16, 2023, broadcast. When questioned by Harlow about his remarks regarding the 51-year-old politician, Lemon added: “If you Google, ‘when is a woman in her prime,’ it’ll say 20s, 30s, and 40s. … I’m not saying I agree with that so I think she has to be careful about saying that [politicians aren’t in their prime].” After missing several broadcasts, Lemon, who apologized for his sexist remark, returned later that month after undergoing “formal training,” per a memo obtained by The Associated Press at the time. Less than two months later, however, Variety published an expose into Lemon’s alleged misogynist behavior on April 5, 2023. Later that month, news broke that he was fired. “I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN," Lemon wrote in a statement at the time. "I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. 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." Offscreen, Lemon found love with Tim Malone in 2017. They announced their engagement in 2019. Scroll through for more on Lemon’s ups and downs:

Credit: Matthew Taplinger/Starpix/Shutterstock

CNN Anchor Don Lemon’s Ups and Downs

When the news anchor becomes the news. From drunken antics on New Year’s Eve to backlash for sexist remarks, Don Lemon made waves during his time at CNN. After making a name for himself through his reporting at several Fox and NBC affiliates through the years, Lemon joined CNN in 2006 and became a prominent host on the network in 2014. One year later, Lemon sparked controversy when he held up a sign with the N-word written in large letters amid a debate about then-President Barack Obama using the term on Marc Maron‘s “WTF” podcast. Lemon continued to make headlines for onscreen antics — including getting his ears pierced after several shots during CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live broadcast in 2016. Still, the journalist’s career continued to flourish as he went on to host Don Lemon Tonight from 2014 to 2022. In 2022, the network announced CNN This Morning — a new show he would anchor alongside Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow. That February, Lemon came under fire when he shaded former governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley after she announced plans to run for president. “She says people, politicians are not in their prime. … Nikki Haley is not in her prime, sorry. A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s,” Lemon said during the February 16, 2023, broadcast. When questioned by Harlow about his remarks regarding the 51-year-old politician, Lemon added: “If you Google, ‘when is a woman in her prime,’ it’ll say 20s, 30s, and 40s. … I’m not saying I agree with that so I think she has to be careful about saying that [politicians aren’t in their prime].” After missing several broadcasts, Lemon, who apologized for his sexist remark, returned later that month after undergoing “formal training,” per a memo obtained by The Associated Press at the time. Less than two months later, however, Variety published an expose into Lemon’s alleged misogynist behavior on April 5, 2023. Later that month, news broke that he was fired. “I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN," Lemon wrote in a statement at the time. "I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. 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." Offscreen, Lemon found love with Tim Malone in 2017. They announced their engagement in 2019. Scroll through for more on Lemon’s ups and downs:

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2006

After earning three Chicago / Midwest Emmy Awards during his time at WMAQ — an NBC affiliate station in Chicago — Lemon moved to CNN in 2006.

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2015

One year into his run as anchor of Don Lemon Tonight, Lemon sparked backlash for holding up a sign with the N-word on it in the middle of a broadcast in June 2015. That same month, things got heated as he and Sunny Hostin argued over the topic on air.

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2016

CNN cut away from Lemon during the New Year’s Eve broadcast after he declared “2016 was awful.” By the end of the night, Lemon got his ears pierced on air after taking several shots.

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2018

Lemon’s family experienced personal tragedy when his sister L’Tanya “Leisa” Lemon Grimes died in an accidental drowning in Louisiana at age 58. He got emotional when he returned to his show one week after her death.

“First off, many of you have noticed that I have not been here. My older sister died unexpectedly last week and I am back sitting with you tonight because this is exactly where she would have wanted me to be,” he said in February 2018. “Leisa was so proud of me, and all she wanted for Christmas last year was a new CNN Tonight T-shirt.”

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2019

Lemon and Malone got engaged.

“It’s weird to say ‘fiancé,’ but my fiancé is a really great guy. He’s really sweet,” Lemon gushed to Us Weekly in April 2019. “He was so vulnerable when he was asking me [to marry him]. I didn’t think it was real. … His entire body was shaking, and he said, ‘I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.’ And I said, ‘Oh, my gosh. Oh, my gosh, are you serious? This is real!’ And I saw the box and I said, ‘All right.’ It’s been an amazing experience.”

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2021

Andy Cohen and Lemon were trending during the 2021-22 NYE broadcast after they were seemingly overserved. While Cohen made fun of Ryan Seacrest’s show and slammed then-Mayor Bill de Blasio, Lemon joked about “broke dick” with comedian Dulcé Sloan and told haters: “You can kiss my behind, I do not care."

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2022

Lemon, Collins and Harlow got into it on CNN’s This Morning in December 2022 while discussing the pay disparity between the women’s U.S. Soccer team and the men’s U.S. soccer team.

“I know everyone’s gonna hate me, but the men’s team makes more money. If they make more money, then they should get more money,” he said. “The men’s team makes more money because you know what, because people are more interested in the men.”

He continued: “I’m not sexist. I grew up the only boy in a family of all women. I understand what you’re saying, but not everybody honestly has the same skill — not everybody has the same interest in the sport.”

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2023

Lemon issued an apology for his aforementioned sexist comments about Haley.

“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,” he tweeted. “A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.”

After three days off the air, he returned to CNN This Morning, tweeting: “I appreciate the opportunity to be back on @CNNThisMorning today. To my network, my colleagues and our incredible audience — I’m sorry. I’ve heard you, I’m learning from you, and I’m committed to doing better. See you soon.”

Less than two months later, Lemon was “terminated by CNN” — and alleged that he was informed about his firing through his agent.

"It is clear that there are some larger issues at play. With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run. They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best,” he said in a Twitter statement.

The network subsequently confirmed CNN This Morning would continue with Harlow and Collins.

“CNN and Don have parted ways. Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years,” the network said in a statement. “We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”

The network later added: “Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”