Don Lemon said on Monday that he was fired from his anchor role at CNN, and the news network also confirmed it had parted ways with its longtime talent.

As Blavity previously reported, Lemon was in the hot seat this month after several former and current colleagues shared their experiences working with him. They reportedly accused the 57-year-old of misogyny and making fatphobic remarks.

He also faced backlash earlier this year over his controversial comments on air.

Lemon took to Twitter and announced the news after his agent informed him he would be terminated from the network.

“I am stunned,” Lemon wrote. “After 17 years at CNN I would have thought someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly.”

He continued, “At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play.”

 

Lemon also thanked his colleagues and the teams he worked with during his stint at the outlet. 

In February, the former anchor had discussions with CNN execs regarding remarks he made about a woman’s competency between her 20s and 30s during an episode of CNN This Morning, per Blavity. 

According to reports at the time, he was given a final warning that he would be ousted if he insulted his coworkers or created a hostile environment on or off the air. 

Lemon’s contentious remarks came after he responded to politician Nikki Haley’s comments suggesting presidential candidates over 75 should take competency tests. 

“She says people, politicians are not in their prime. Nikki Haley is not in her prime, sorry. A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s…If you Google ‘when is a woman in her prime,’ it’ll say 20s, 30s, and 40s. … I’m not saying I agree with that, so I think she has to be careful about saying that [politicians aren’t in their prime],” Lemon said.

Lemon later issued a statement after his comments went viral on social media.

“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,” he wrote. “A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.”

After announcing his departure, CNN tweeted Lemon’s statement regarding CNN’s management was “inaccurate.”

“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter,” the tweet read.

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