On April 25, 2023, CNN announced that the station had parted ways with longtime host, Don Lemon. Prior to his departure, he anchored “CNN This Morning” with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.
“Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years,” said CNN CEO Chris Licht in a memo to staff. “We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”
In a statement, Lemon said he was not engaged by CNN over the decision to terminate his appointment. He noted that he got to know of the decision through his agent on Monday morning, adding that management did not have the decency to inform him directly.
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“I am stunned,” Lemon said. “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.”
Lemon first joined CNN in 2006 and hosted the prime-time show “Don Lemon Tonight” for more than eight years and later hosted “CNN This Morning.” Prior to that, he worked at Fox and NBC affiliates, later serving as a correspondent on Today and NBC Nightly News.
During his time at CNN, Lemon amassed a huge net worth. His fortune mainly came from his work at the network, hosting Don Lemon Tonight and CNN This Morning, according to Yahoo News.
He reportedly earned an estimated salary of around $4 million annually from CNN. However, his estimated net worth is around $12 million, Yahoo News reported, citing Celebrity Net Worth.
However, the former TV Host’s time at CNN was not without controversies. He was widely condemned for sexist comments earlier this year. He argued that the 51-year-old Nikki Haley “isn’t in her prime” during an on-air discussion about a Republican presidential candidate, and added that a woman is “considered to be in her prime during her 20s, 30s, and maybe 40s.”
