Minutes before he went back on the air on Wednesday, CNN This Morning anchor Don Lemon offered yet another apology for the sexist comments he made last week about the presidential campaign of former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley.
“I appreciate the opportunity to be back on @CNNThisMorning today,” he wrote in a tweet Wednesday morning. “To my network, my colleagues and our incredible audience — I’m sorry. I’ve heard you, I’m learning from you, and I’m committed to doing better. See you soon.”
Don Lemon made his first appearance on CNN This Morning since the February 16 incident in which he claimed that Haley, who had just announced her race for president, “isn’t in her prime.” He elaborated by saying that women are “considered to be at their prime in their 20s, 30s, and maybe 40s.” The two female co-anchors he works with, Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow, disagreed with him. Later in the broadcast, Lemon brought it up again in discussion.
After receiving criticism for his remarks, Don Lemon issued an apology on Twitter, saying, “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.”
On Tuesday, it was reported that network chief Chris Licht sent a message to workers announcing Lemon’s return to the programme. The communication included preparations to “formal train” Lemon in light of his remarks regarding Haley.
“I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation,” Licht wrote in the internal communication. “He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously. It is important to me that CNN balances accountability with… fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes.”
