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. Whereas 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 individuals, politicians will not be of their prime,” he mentioned, referring to the previous United Nations Ambassador’s concept to implement “psychological competency assessments” for political leaders over the age of 75. “Nikki Haley is just not in her prime, sorry. A girl is taken into account to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and possibly 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: “In the event you Google, ‘when is a girl in her prime,’ it’ll say 20s, 30s, and 40s. … I’m not saying I agree with that so I believe she must be cautious about saying that [politicians aren’t in their prime].”
The remark shortly sparked controversy amongst viewers and political pundits — and Haley herself was fast to fireside again at Lemon’s comment. “To be clear, I’m NOT calling for competency assessments for Sexist middle-aged CNN anchors; just for individuals who make our legal guidelines and are 75+,” she quipped by way of Twitter on February 16.
Lemon’s flub prompted a full of life debate on social media. “Hey Girls -@donlemon thinks ladies over 50 are previous their prime! Let’s begin #primetime and checklist a few of the issues we’ve completed in these superb later years. I’ll begin,” Patricia Heaton tweeted on February 17 as the previous As we speak correspondent sat out from his CNN present.
Heaton, 64, went on to call a few of her current profession highlights, from publishing her e-book Your Second Act: Inspiring Tales 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 in the course of the February 20 broadcast of the community’s morning present.
In accordance with CNN, Lemon was given an opportunity to deal with his coworkers in the course of the firm’s February 17 editorial assembly. “I’m sorry that I mentioned it,” the Clear writer famous to the workers. “And I actually see why individuals discovered it fully misguided. After I make a mistake, I personal it. And I personal this one as nicely.”
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