Left-wing news anchor Don Lemon has a well known history of saying Republicans are motivated by bigotry and sexism.
However, the CNN star found himself in hot water this week after declaring that women over 50 are past their “prime.”
“Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime”
HotAir reported that Lemon made the assertion during Thursday’s broadcast of “CNN This Morning.” His comments came in response to Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s insistence 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 told co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.
“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 continued.
Haley says “it’s always the liberals who are the most sexist”
“She would not be in her prime according to Google or whatever it is,” Lemon concluded. According to Iowa State University, Haley turned 51 last month.
Haley was quick to denounce Lemon’s remarks, tweeting, “Liberals can’t stand the idea of having competency tests for older politicians to make sure they can do the job.”
The former United Nations ambassador and South Carolina governor went on to insist that “it’s always the liberals who are the most sexist.”
Liberals can’t stand the idea of having competency tests for older politicians to make sure they can do the job.
BTW it’s always the liberals who are the most sexist. pic.twitter.com/PzpniQFLff
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 16, 2023
Lemon apologizes for the comment
Haley later told Fox News hosts Sandra Smith and Bill Hemmer that she has “always made the liberals’ heads explode.”
“They can’t stand the fact that a minority conservative female would not be on the Democratic side because they know I pull independents. They know I pull suburban women. They know I pull minorities over to what we are trying to do,” Haley stated.
For his part, Lemon later put 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