Former CNN news anchor Don Lemon’s departure from the network is becoming a subject of interest after he announced on Twitter that he had been let go without warning.
After years of dedicated service at CNN, including hosting Don Lemon Tonight for eight years and co-hosting CNN This Morning, he felt his exit was mishandled.
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) April 24, 2023
According to Radar Online, Lemon is planning to reveal details about his experience and may publish a tell-all book.
“Don feels like he’s been a [good soldier] at CNN and that he’s a scapegoat for the failure of the morning show he was forced to co-host with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins,” the source told the outlet. “He’s looking for payback!”
The source said Lemon may be planning to expose colleagues and their bad behavior by shining a spotlight on their actions.
The report suggests that Lemon’s time at CNN was nearing an end for at least one year prior to his departure. However, his prime-time show was canceled, and he was co-hosting a morning show that was struggling. He believes he has been a good soldier for CNN, and his abrupt exit without being told directly is a clear indication of the larger issues at play.
Related Story: Viola Davis Set To Release Memoir, ‘Finding Me’
He signed a $25 million contract in September with CNN and has now hired an attorney after the network publicly disputed his claims of being terminated without warning. The company alleges that he was offered a chance to meet with his superiors, which he declined.
The New York Times reported that Lemon’s remarks about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley not being “in her prime” and an on-air exchange with another Republican presidential candidate, Vivek Ramaswamy, which turned into a heated debate about Black history, helped seal his fate at the network.
CNN network has not commented further on the matter.
