Left-wing anchor Don Lemon was excoriated on Thursday after he made comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley that many regarded as being sexist.
As the New York Post pointed out, Lemon was conspicuously absent from CNN following the controversy.
Lemon claimed that a 50-something woman is not “in her prime”
The controversy began during Thursday’s broadcast of “CNN This Morning” when Lemon accused 51-year-old Haley of not being “in her prime.”
Lemon’s words came in response to Haley’s recent declaration that that politicians aged 75 and up should have to undergo a mental competency exam.
Don Lemon: “Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry, when a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, and 30s, and maybe 40s … Don’t shoot the messenger! I’m just saying what the facts are! Google it!”
WOW.
— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) February 16, 2023
“Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are. Google it,” Lemon said to “CNN This Morning” co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.
Lemon gave “bizarre, rambling apology”
“Everybody at home, when is a woman in her prime? It says 20s, 30s and 40s. I’m just saying Nikki Haley should be careful about saying that politics are not in their prime, and they need to be in their prime when they serve,” he insisted, adding, “She would not be in her prime according to Google or whatever it is.”
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. A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 16, 2023
Lemon quickly tweeted out an apology in which he said, “A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally.”
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. A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 16, 2023
What’s more, the Post also reported that Lemon offered a “bizarre, rambling apology to coworkers,” insisting, “The people I am closest to in this organization are women.”
Former NPR reporter fills in for Lemon
However, Lemon was nevertheless off the air on Friday morning with former National Public Radio (NPR) journalist Audie Cornish filling in for him.
.@AudieCornish is co-anchoring CNN This Morning with @kaitlancollins! pic.twitter.com/Z9vWYgzQ0N
— Joanna Preston (@JoPrestonTV) February 17, 2023
For her part, Haley responded with a tweet of her own in which she said that “it’s always the liberals who are the most sexist.”