CNN denounced a new report by Variety accusing “This Morning” co-host Don Lemon of “misogyny” – specifically denouncing the report’s reliance on anonymous sources.
The magazine published an extensive report Wednesday that alleged Lemon has a history of demonstrating misogynistic and “diva-like” behavior and even outlined an instance in which he reportedly sent threatening texts to a female colleague.
One such example of his behavior involves an interaction purportedly between Lemon and correspondent Kyra Phillips. Phillips, as the story goes, received an assignment in Iraq in 2008 that her colleague had been angling for.
Lemon, a pair of sources told Variety, allegedly responded to the snub “by tearing up pictures and notes on top of and inside Phillips’ desk in the news pod they shared.”
And that’s when things got weirder.
“One night while dining with members of the news team, she received the first of two threatening text messages from an unknown number on her flip phone that warned, ‘Now you’ve crossed the line, and you’re going to pay for it,’” the report states.
CNN’s Don Lemon Had History of Misogyny Before Nikki Haley Comment – Variety https://t.co/xkzc5AyQMa
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) April 5, 2023
Don Lemon Accused of Misogyny, CNN Rides to His Defense
The Variety report notes that Lemon was pulled from his role once the text messages were traced back to him, describing the move as “a demotion by any objective measure and understood to be some kind of disciplinary action.”
It is littered with other accusations of Lemon exhibiting “diva-like behavior,” displaying “a habit of saying idiotic and inaccurate things,” and a general propensity toward “misogynistic behavior.”
The report cites more than a dozen former and current colleagues of the once-heralded prime-time anchor.
1-Don Lemon is psycho.
2- @CNN should have fired him yrs ago & that they didn’t speaks volumes
3-CNN is probably ready to fire Lemon ergo the leaks behind this article
Looking forward to the same CNN moralizing they fire at Fox every day
Insane..
https://t.co/a4IsyoC4ya
— IT Guy (@ITGuy1959) April 5, 2023
Even more hilarious than Lemon being portrayed essentially as Regina George in Mean Girls throughout his career at CNN, is the network’s response to the allegations.
Listen to this, you guys. Jon Nicosia, President of News Cycle Media, has a statement from CNN that has to go down in the gaslighting Hall of Fame.
“The Variety story provides no actual proof, and instead relies on anonymous sources and unsubstantiated claims from 10 to 15 years ago,” the statement reads. “CNN is unable to corroborate the alleged accounts.”
.@CNN responded to the Don Lemon disaster: “The Variety story provides no actual proof, and instead relies on anonymous sources and unsubstantiated claims from 10 to 15 years ago. CNN is unable to corroborate the alleged accounts.” — WAIT. I thought we ‘Believe all Women’ ??
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) April 5, 2023
The absolute chutzpah in that statement is off the charts. When one thinks of CNN and its reporting, one will always find a list of staple elements, all of which are included in that defense of Lemon:
- No actual proof.
- Anonymous sources.
- Unsubstantiated claims.
- Accounts dredged up from many years past.
- An inability to corroborate accounts.
In fact, if one were to add the above bullet points as ‘skills’ to their CV, it would most likely land them a job at CNN, possibly on Lemon’s team.
Get the heck out of here with that garbage, CNN.
Not only that, but CNN publishes stories everyday relying on anonymous sources and unsubstantiated claims.
They wouldn’t have any content if it weren’t for anonymous sources.
But y’all are supposed to believe THOSE.
— Rusty
(@rustyweiss74) April 5, 2023
Says Women in Their 50s Are Past Their Prime
Make no mistake – the Variety report is a hit piece against Lemon and reeks of the network trying to give him the boot. It’s seemingly unfair but hey, if this involved a Fox News reporter every outlet in America would have run the story without hesitation.
Making matters worse is that it comes on the heels of Lemon putting his foot in his mouth less than two months ago with other misogynistic comments about women.
He accused Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, who is barely 51 years old, and other women in their 40s and 50s of being “past their prime.”
The comments left his co-anchors a little shocked.
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…”
Poppy Harlow: “Are you talking about prime for like child bearing?”
“Don’t shoot the messenger! I’m just saying what the facts are! Google it!” pic.twitter.com/n1HmtkWTpl
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 16, 2023
Haley responded to Lemon’s comments by referring to him as a “sexist, middle-aged CNN anchor.”
He also “snapped” at colleague Kaitlan Collins for daring to interrupt him during an on-set incident and a clip from February also showed him refusing to go to a commercial following her interview with Rep. James Comer.
Perhaps there is a theme emerging with Lemon’s behavior. The question now is – What does CNN plan to do about it?
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