The 'CNN This Morning' anchor makes the controversial comments in a recent episode of the network's morning show while discussing former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's presidential candidacy.
- February 18, 2023
AceShowbiz - CNN anchor Don Lemon issued apology to his co-workers over his recent sexist comments. On Friday, February 17, the TV personality admitted that he was sorry for offending them with his remarks about when women are "in their prime" on "CNN This Morning".
"I'm sorry that I said it. And I certainly see why people found it completely misguided," Lemon said during CNN's Friday editorial meeting. "When I make a mistake, I own it. And I own this one as well."
During the meeting, Chris Licht, the network's chief executive, shared that he had heard from a number of people inside the organization about Lemon's remarks. He dubbed the comments "unacceptable," adding that they were "unfair to his co-hosts." He went on to note that it was important for Lemon to appear at the virtual meeting to address the matter and took the accountability for it.
"I believe that women of any age… can do whatever they set their minds to," Lemon said. "The people I am closest to in this organization are women. The people I seek counsel from most in this organization are women."
Prior to this, Lemon took to his Twitter account to express remorse for his comments. "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," Lemon tweeted on Thursday. "A woman's age doesn't define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day."
Lemon made the controversial comments a Thursday discussion on the network's morning show over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's presidential candidacy. In response to Haley's demand for mental competency tests for politicians over the age of 75, Lemon claimed that Haley herself "isn't in her prime."
Supporting his argument, he said that a woman is only "considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s." Rather unsurprisingly, his comments were met with backlash from co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, but Lemon only futher doubled down his remarks.
