CNN host Don Lemon has a long history of workplace misogyny, beginning many years before his offensive on-air remarks. An appalling report suggested that he once threatened and degraded former colleagues including Soledad O’Brien, Kyra Phillips, and Nancy Grace in the past.
Don Lemon, the source of public outcry after he declared that Nikki Haley was past her prime in February, has been exposed as displaying disrespectful and “diva-like” behavior towards female co-workers according to Wednesday’s reporting by Variety. This is an inexcusable violation of basic respect for his peers and colleagues.
According to the report, 57-year-old “CNN This Morning” co-host has been accused of cruel body shaming a female producer in person, accusing O’Brien of not being black enough and sending Phillips an intimidating text message out of jealous rage.
“There was a time when it appeared that Black people were most often the subject of his ire. Now, it seems to me that when he says something offensive, there’s almost always a woman on the other side,” Goldie Taylor, a former CNN consultant, said. “I’m never surprised when Don gets in trouble.”
In 2008, while Lemon was co-anchoring at CNN’s “Live From,” Phillips was chosen over him to report on the aftermath of the Iraqi invasion.
Overcome by anger, he reportedly displayed his jealous feelings by tearing up pictures and scattering them on Phillips’ desk – according to two previous CNN workers.
As she was enjoying a night out with her colleagues, an intimidating text from Lemon arrived in her inbox.
An anonymous number later traced to Lemon, sent a threatening message that read “Now you’ve crossed the line, and you’re going to pay for it,” read the message sent to Phillips.”
After CNN launched a thorough investigation into the text, Variety reported that Lemon had been taken off his co-anchoring duties alongside Phillips and relegated to weekend shifts.
A representative for Lemon vehemently denied sending the text.
“Don says the incident never occurred and that he was never notified of any investigation,” the representative said. “CNN cannot corroborate the alleged events from 15 years ago.”
Concurrently, Variety reported that Lemon mockingly imitated former Headline News and CNN anchor Nancy Grace on air, leaving his colleagues dumbfounded.
Those close to Grace have labeled him an “ass” who was “rude, dismissive, and really unfamiliar with the [news] content being discussed,”
Sources reported that Lemon quickly gained notoriety for his disregard for women in the newsroom.
“That was the beginning of when you knew that Don was kind of volatile and didn’t say good things about women,” according to someone who saw the incident, Lemon was said to have been mocking Grace.
When O’Brien was offered the incredible opportunity to host CNN’s much-lauded 2008 docuseries “Black in America”, Lemon allegedly embarrassed her out of jealousy and envy, as reported.
At a large editorial conference with approximately 30 journalists, Lemon reportedly argued that O’Brien—a white and Afro-Cuban individual—wasn’t really black according to two people who spoke with Variety.
“Don has long had a habit of saying idiotic and inaccurate things, so it sounds pretty on brand for him,” O’Brien, who was absent from the telephone call, said.
A CNN spokesperson said, “Don denies making any related remark in a derogatory way.”
“Don, Soledad, and others have in the past correctly referred to her Afro-Cuban heritage as it is a unique part of her personal story,” the spokesperson continued.
According to the report, Lemon was notorious for disregarding regulations around the workplace.
Lemon, aged 41 at the time he joined CNN in 2006, began a relationship with a 22-year-old junior staff member despite their age gap and power dynamic being a potential conflict of interest. This information was recently unearthed by an investigative report.
Sources within CNN confided in Variety that Lemon, who was known to show up late and miss editorial gatherings, had a special knack for getting away with it – due to his close bond with Turner Broadcasting’s Chairman and CEO Phil Kent.
“As fast as you could make a rule, Don would bend it,” stated one senior executive at the time.
In 2013, Jeff Zucker was chosen to lead CNN and provided support for Lemon.
After a period of six months with Zucker at the helm, Lemon made an irksome televised address wherein he implored African-Americans to “adjust their pant lines”.
“Walking around with your ass and your underwear showing is not OK,” During the broadcast, Lemon said. “In fact, it comes from prison when they take away belts from the prisoner so that they can’t make a weapon.”
Lemon continued: “And then it evolved into which role a prisoner would have during male-on-male prison sex.”
Even with his incendiary statements, Lemon retained his position—despite the complaints of colleagues, as per the report.
Goldie Taylor, a former CNN consultant, claimed that she was blacklisted by the network due to her vocal disapproval of Lemon’s statements.
In 2014, Lemon stirred up controversy when he suggested to a Bill Cosby rape accuser that she could have stopped the assault by clamping down on the comedian’s penis. These comments were met with widespread condemnation.
Last September, he enraged people even further when he used an offensive gender stereotype on air to explain why political commentator S.E. Cupp had faltered over a statistic regarding Republicans.
“Is it fair to say this because I’m not a mommy, but is it mommy brain?” his query to Cupp was met with a heavy, uncomfortable silence.
“No, Don, I just forgot what I was going to say,” she answered.
Last February, Lemon sparked outrage after making remarks about Haley’s age, claiming she was past her prime. To address this situation and provide an appropriate solution for all involved, he was instructed to attend sensitivity training.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” actress Michelle Yeoh, 60, later appeared to take a jab at Lemon during her Oscars acceptance speech — urging ladies to not let “anyone tell you you are ever past your prime.”
On Wednesday, former CNN contributor Mary Katharine Ham highlighted how Zucker retained Lemon in the face of numerous blunders — whereas those who had disputes with him have since left the network.
“SO STRANGE, it’s all the women in this story who took issue w Lemon during the Zucker era who are no longer at CNN, not Lemon. Especially weird considering how many very righteous #metoo segments we all did. Huh,” In response to the Variety piece, she expressed her thoughts on Twitter.
Lemon was strongly reprimanded for offering counsel to Jussie Smollett, the disgraced actor who fabricated reports of a mob attack by Trump supporters in Chicago while covering this scandalous case.
“He should have been benched in that instance. No question” stated a longtime co-worker.
A CNN representative adamantly defended Lemon’s engagement with the celebrity and described the entire Variety narrative as erroneous.
“CNN reviewed the [Smollett] incident in question at the time and found that any interaction was an act of journalism as Don was attempting to prompt a response from Mr. Smollett and book him for his show,” the spokesperson said.
“The story, which is riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete evidence, is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip,” the spokesperson added.
“It’s amazing and disappointing that Variety would be so reckless.”
