Don Lemon’s ousting was briefly addressed Tuesday on “CNN This Morning,” with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins sharing kind words about their now-former colleague.
Lemon, who had worked on the morning show since its November launch, said he was fired Monday after 17 years at CNN.
“He was one of the first anchors on CNN to have me on his show,” Collins said. “That’s something I’ll obviously never forget. … We wish him the best.”
Harlow added, “Don was one of my first friends here at CNN. I’m so thankful to have worked alongside him and for his support for nearly 15 years here. I wish him all good things ahead.”
Lemon, 57, joined CNN as a correspondent in 2006 and hosted “Don Lemon Tonight” from 2014 until last year. On Monday, he claimed he learned of his termination through his agent, saying in a statement, “I am stunned.”
“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 said in a screenshotted statement shared on Twitter. “It is clear that there are some larger issues at play. With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run.”
CNN confirmed Lemon’s exit but refuted his account of what happened. “He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter,” the outlet said through the network’s PR/communications Twitter handle.
Lemon sparked controversy in February when he suggested Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley wasn’t “in her prime” at age 51. He apologized and missed nearly a week of episodes before returning to the air.
Monday also saw Fox News part ways with weeknight host Tucker Carlson. His final episode of “Tucker Carlson Tonight” aired last Friday.