CNN Employees Stab Don Lemon In Back, Leak Private Apology To Media: “Tone Deaf, giving himself kudos for owning his mistake”

CNN’s Don Lemon is desperately trying to save his job and contain the fallout for his sexist behavior at the network. Lemon was on thin ice for screaming at co-host Kaitlan Collins in late December. Collins was devastated by his behavior and the entire staff was rattled.

Don Lemon was told to cool it but then he made it worse yesterday when he trashed Nikky Hapey and women in general. He said: “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.

“And I’m just saying Nikki Haley should be careful about saying that politicians are not in their prime, and they need to be in their prime when they serve. Because she wouldn’t be in her prime according to Google or whatever it is.”

After the backlash Lemon panicked and called into a CNN staff meeting to issue a groveling apology.

“I’m sorry I don’t mean to hurt anyone. I did not mean to offend anyone.

“What I said came out wrong and I wish I hadn’t said it. 

“I believe women of any age can do anything they set their minds to. 

“The people I am closest to in this organization are women.”

“When I make a mistake. 

“I own it and I own this one as well.

“I understand why you are upset and disappointed.

“I was trying to make the point that no one’s age should define their ambition or potential for success and I was saying those comments to Nikki Haley,” he said.

Lemon’s boss, CNN CEO Chris Licht, scolded Lemon saying the comments were “upsetting, unacceptable and unfair and a huge distraction.”

According to TMZ, CNN Employees were not buying it and stabbed in him the back by leaking what was said after he left the call:

Don Lemon jumped on a CNN staff call Friday morning to apologize for his sexist on-air comment Thursday that women are not in their prime after their 40s … but it did not go over well.

Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ … Don jumped on for only 90 seconds to address what he said about Nikki Haley and, for that matter, all women.

We’re told some people on the call talked afterward and called Don “tone deaf,” with one saying it looks like Don was giving himself kudos for owning his mistake.

NEW: Don Lemon issued a desperate apology to his CNN colleagues on the network’s morning editorial call: ‘I believe women of any age can do anything’ https://t.co/pRugbvPwel

— Joseph A. Wulfsohn (@JosephWulfsohn) February 17, 2023

Looks like sexist Don Lemon “has the day off.” Maybe he’ll use his free time to google what an actual apology looks like.pic.twitter.com/P3e52u8A7N

— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) February 17, 2023