CNN has leveled a stunning accusation against its ex-anchor, Don Lemon.
The network is accusing him of lying about the circumstances of his departure from the network. This revelation emerged after CNN acknowledged that it had terminated Lemon’s contract following his 17-year stint, without disclosing any specific grounds for the decision.
In a tweet, CNN Communications accused Lemon of making a false statement about the circumstances of his departure.
“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,” the tweet read.
CNN Nuking Don Lemon as a liar on his way out the door is really something else ? pic.twitter.com/9IL9mLGMN9
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 24, 2023
The termination of Lemon’s contract and the subsequent allegations have created a stir within CNN, irrespective of the reasons behind the decision. With almost two decades of service at the network, Lemon had amassed a considerable fan following and was one of its most recognizable personalities.
Lemon responded to his firing earlier in the day:
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 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.
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.
Earlier this month, the news continued to get worse for Lemon.
In fact, as we noted, CEO Chris Licht may have just humiliated Lemon to a point where he may leave the network on his own, but it came after Lemon himself had been involved in a series of incidents that did not bode well for him professionally or the network he works for.
Last fall, Lemon was demoted by Licht from a primetime evening show where he served as the solo host to co-host a morning show with two female colleagues, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlin Collins.
He quickly made an enemy of Collins by treating her like garbage on the air and screaming at her off the air. But now it seems as though Collins will be getting the last laugh.
According to reports, Licht is handing Collins a primetime evening slot for a tryout and if she succeeds, she’ll move on to that slot instead and leave Lemon behind.
“I think it’s fair to say Chris Licht and leadership have been impressed,” a source close to network boss Licht told the New York Post.
“She’s his favorite,” said another source who said Collins’ rise has frustrated some network veterans including Lemon.