Don Lemon’s career at CNN is looking like it’s on the rocks. First, he was moved from his prime-time show to a morning show with co-hosts. He insisted that the move wasn’t a demotion…but it sure looked like one. Then, he was lambasted for making his co-host cry by yelling at her for “interrupting” him. Next, he was skewered by the right and left for a supposedly sexist comment he made about RINO presidential hopeful Nikki Haley. And now, as a result of that, he’s on exceedingly thin ice and will have to undergo sensitivity training, with insiders saying that he has “no defenders” left.
CNN CEO Chris Licht announced the training Don will have to undergo, saying “I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation. He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously. It is important to me that CNN balances accountability with fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes. To that end, Don will return to CNN This Morning on Wednesday.”
So, he hasn’t been fired, as many initially expected. But his position is looking precarious and one more misstep could mean that his shipwreck of a career is over. Such was the impression given by two insiders who spoke on the matter to Fox News Digital, saying that though Lemon is still around because he’s a “protected class”, he has no defenders left and isn’t worth the headache. Fox News Digital, reporting on their comments, said:
A CNN insider said Lemon has “no defenders” inside the network over the situation and everyone is still “pissed.” If he were forced out, “it would probably be welcomed by a lot of people,” they said. “I think there’s an array of people who maybe like him personally, not professionally.”
A second insider, asked whether Lemon was well-liked in the building, replied “not anymore,” citing a dramatic shift in recent days.
But despite the animosity, the insider says while consensus of internal network chatter is that “absolutely” he should go, Lemon remains “untouchable” since he’s “part of a protected class.”
When asked whether he’s worth the headache to keep on-air, the insider quickly replied, “No.”
That’s not all. A third insider spoke to Fox News Digital as well, saying “I think he should bust his a– to make the morning show work. Drop all ego. Play well with others.” Given the size of Don’s ego, that seems unlikely. So, his continued employment and success does as well.
Still, there’s more. Fox News Digital also quotes a “longtime media executive” as commenting on Don’s issues, saying “Don Lemon’s buffoonery has got to be the worst morning show debacle since Deborah Norville replaced Jane Pauley on the ‘Today’ show. Chris Licht should cut his losses and fire Don before Don subjects CNN’s dwindling audience to more of this misogynistic psychodrama.”
We’ll see what happens. But, whether he’s employed for a bit longer or fired sooner rather than later, things aren’t looking good for him.
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