CNN CEO Puts Don Lemon On Notice After Co-Host Stormed Off Set Today: “People say stupid things and if it’s a trend then there’s recourse”

Don Lemon’s co-host Poppy Harlow stormed off the set today after Lemon made some sexist comments he later apologized for. During a meeting today with Chris Licht, CNN’s new CEO was asked about Lemon’s comments and reportedly said, “People say stupid things and that if it’s a trend then there’s recourse.”

According to The New York Post: “Poppy Harlow walked off the “CNN This Morning” set Thursday following a tense exchange with Lemon after he said GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley was “not in her prime,” The Post has learned.

“According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Harlow took a “well-timed” bathroom break and was followed into the restroom by co-host Kaitlan Collins — who recently had her own run-in with Lemon.

The tense relationship between Lemon, Collins and Harlow has “been smoldering for months,” the source said. However, CNN boss Chris Licht seems content to keep rolling out the troubled trio.”

Lemon issued a weak apology after massive backlash. 

“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.”

Lemon said earlier that Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime as a politician because she’s not in her 20’s, 30’s or 40’s. Haley is 51. Kamala Harris is 58. 

Lemon said: This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable. I think it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry, When a woman is in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s…

Poppy Harlow: What are you talking — Wait…

Lemon: That’s not according to me.

Harlow: Prime for what?

Lemon: It depends. It’s just like, prime. If you look it up. If you Google when is a woman in her prime, it’ll say 20s, 30s, 40s.

Harlow: Forties! Oh my god, I have another decade.

Lemon: I’m not saying I agree with that. So I think she has to be careful about saying that, you know, politicians are in their prime.

Harlow: Are you talking about prime for, like, childbearing? Or are you talking about prime for being president?

Lemon: Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are. Google it. Everybody at home, when is a woman in her prime? It says 20s, 30s and 40s.

I’m just saying Nikki Haley should careful about saying that politics are not in their prime, and they need to be in their prime when they serve.

She would not be in her prime according to Google or whatever it is.

Poppy Harlow leaves CNN set after tense exchange with Don Lemon https://t.co/7y68ywmsBT pic.twitter.com/LIrGM3yYAH

— New York Post (@nypost) February 16, 2023

Don Lemon says Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime as a politician because she’s not in her 20’s, 30’s or 40’s. Holy shit. She’s only 51! Biden’s 80! This may be the dumbest thing ever said on CNN. And I love that he cited Google as his source: pic.twitter.com/l1CzTYlkjX

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 16, 2023

“CNN This Morning” with Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins, is the lowest-rated morning show iteration on CNN in a decade. pic.twitter.com/8ZsjLx1OU8

— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) February 11, 2023