CNN’s Don Lemon was once again absent from his usual morning lineup on Monday following criticism over his remarks about 2024 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
Lemon was absent just one business day after he was also replaced in the Friday morning lineup by Audia Cornish. Lemon’s Friday absence was made public on Thursday, however, with the hosts noting toward the end of the show they there would be a “special treat,” as “Don’s going to be off.”
Two anonymous sources told the Daily Beast that Lemon’s removal from the Monday lineup was intentional.
“There are ongoing conversations about Don’s future,” one person familiar with the matter told the Daily Beast. “He is a constant distraction.”
Monday’s “CNN This Morning” begins with a very understated “Don has the day off.” You’re meant not to notice it. No one says “President Past His Prime is in Ukraine….”
NY Post has the Lemon latest: https://t.co/am61V9tfLH pic.twitter.com/ttT6qc9L4v
— Tim Graham (@TimJGraham) February 20, 2023
A CNN spokesperson denied that Lemon is off-air due to the incident, reportedly telling Mediaite that Lemon is “taking the holiday.”
“He’s been chased by paparazzi all weekend,” the spokesperson reportedly said. “He’s been under attack. He’s not ready to go back on air.” (RELATED: CNN President Chris Licht Condemns Don Lemon’s ‘Upsetting’ Remarks About Nikki Haley)
Lemon made headlines on Thursday after he weighed in on former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley calling for mandatory mental acuity tests for elected officials over the age of 75. Lemon said the proposal made him “uncomfortable” and that “Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime.”
“Sorry, when a woman is considered to be in her prime [is] in [her] 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”
Lemon later issued an apology, saying his comments were “inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and loved ones have pointed out, and [he] regret[s] it.”
The Daily Caller has reached out to CNN and will update accordingly.