An on-air blunder. Don Lemon confronted backlash after publicly dissing Nikki Haley on CNN — and was subsequently benched from a number of broadcasts.
The 56-year-old newscaster made headlines on February 16 after making a sexist remark about Haley’s age. While discussing the 51-year-old former governor of South Carolina’s bid for the presidency on CNN This Morning, Lemon claimed that Haley is previous her “prime.”
“She says people, politicians are not in their prime,” he mentioned, referring to the previous United Nations Ambassador’s thought to implement “mental competency tests” for political leaders over the age of 75. “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.”
Cohost Poppy Harlow requested her colleague to make clear his stance, questioning whether or not he meant Haley was past her “prime for childbearing” or “prime for being president.”
Lemon proceeded to double down, responding: “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].”
The remark rapidly sparked controversy amongst viewers and political pundits — and Haley herself was fast to hearth again at Lemon’s comment. “To be clear, I am NOT calling for competency tests for Sexist middle-aged CNN anchors; only for people who make our laws and are 75+,” she quipped by way of Twitter on February 16.
Lemon’s flub prompted a vigorous debate on social media. “Hey Ladies -@donlemon thinks women over 50 are past their prime! Let’s start #primetime and list some of the things we’ve accomplished in these glorious later years. I’ll start,” Patricia Heaton tweeted on February 17 as the previous Today correspondent sat out from his CNN present.
Heaton, 64, went on to title a few of her current profession highlights, from publishing her ebook Your Second Act: Inspiring Stories of Reinvention to producing the CBS sitcom Carol’s Second Act.
Lemon issued a statement via social media apologizing for his “irrelevant” commentary on Haley’s age, however he didn’t instantly return to the air. Sara Sidner crammed in throughout the February 20 broadcast of the community’s morning present.
According to CNN, Lemon was given an opportunity to deal with his coworkers throughout the firm’s February 17 editorial assembly. “I’m sorry that I said it,” the Transparent writer famous to the workers. “And I certainly see why people found it completely misguided. When I make a mistake, I own it. And I own this one as well.”
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