CNN’s Don Lemon has extended his holiday from This Morning after jetting off to Miami with his fiancé after making several ‘sexist’ comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley being ‘past her prime.’
Lemon, 56, was expected to be back on the show this morning with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins but was absent yet again after deciding to take the Presidents Day holiday off instead.
He spent Friday at a luxury $ 2,000-a-night beach resort with his fiancé after CNN’s Chairman Chris Licht slammed his comments on Thursday’s show as ‘upsetting, unacceptable and unfair to his co-hosts, and ultimately a huge distraction to the great work of this organization.’
The star made several ‘sexist’ comments on Thursday’s show when discussing GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s suggestion that politicians 75 and older should face mental competency tests.
His comments reportedly left many staff unimpressed, but Lemon has washed off the criticism by relaxing with his partner Tim Mahone at the beach resort Faena.
Lemon, 56, was expected to be back on the show this morning with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins but decided to take the Presidents Day holiday off instead
The pair have since returned to New York, posting on social media a video of their dogs with the caption ‘home sweet home’ – appearing to ignore the growing backlash against Lemon.
His co-host Poppy Harlow was joined by Sarah Sidner – with the pair briefly mentioning he has the day off – before going to Kaitlan Collins in Poland for President Biden’s surprise trip to Kiyv.
A source told RadarOnline that the relationship between the three hosts have been ‘soldering for months’ – and there are ‘ongoing conversations’ about Don’s future as he becomes a ‘constant distraction’.
They added: ‘He has a colossal ego and he’s the kind of person who goes around saying he’s not going to take the fall for his show flopping, it’s not his fault and the network’s tanking, and they shouldn’t have pushed him out of his primetime slot.’
Lemon was seen sunbathing and taking a dip in the ocean on Friday, with the host taking a break to smile and laugh on the phone – though it is unclear if it was the CNN call which he received a dressing down.
He took the day off on Friday, which CNN say was pre-organized, just one day after he made the controversial comments and apologized for them on Twitter.
During the call, Lemon said: ‘I’m sorry I don’t mean to hurt anyone. I did not mean to offend anyone.
‘What I said came out wrong and I wish I hadn’t said it. I believe women of any age can do anything they set their minds to. The people I am closest to in this organization are women.
His co-host Poppy Harlow was joined by Sarah Sidner – with the pair briefly mentioning he has the day off – before going to Kaitlan Collins in Poland for President Biden’s surprise trip to Kiyv
CNN’s Chairman Chris Licht slammed his remarks as ‘upsetting, unacceptable and unfair to his co-hosts, and ultimately a huge distraction to the great work of this organization’
‘When I make a mistake. I own it and I own this one as well. I understand why you are upset and disappointed.
‘I was trying to make the point that no one’s age should define their ambition or potential for success and I was saying those comments to Nikki Haley. I’m going to continue to be who I am.’
Lemon also cited his relationships with Dana Bash, Erin Burnett, Amy Entelis, and his mom and sister.
His comments ruffled feathers, with a senior CNN staffer rebutting, ‘this is great, but it’s our viewers who deserve an apology.’
CNN employees reportedly called Lemon ‘tone deaf’ after the call, with one saying it looked like he was giving himself a pat on the back for owning his mistake.
One insider said that there was mounting pressure for Lemon to be fired after his continual gaffes on the early-morning show.
Lemon didn’t seem to have a care in the world as he laughed and joked with someone on his phone during the trip
They told DailyMail.com: ‘Don has been skating on thin ice for so long and many wanted him fired in December when he freaked out on Kaitlin Collins for no reason. She was in tears and it was so inappropriate.
‘Regardless of his political affiliation, his comments that Nikki Haley being past her prime were disgusting. Poppy was fuming, as she should be, and still is.
‘He is rude, self-righteous and clearly sexist. Nikki did the right thing by calling him out.
‘His apology meant nothing and there is so much pressure for him to be canned. It would be a shock if he wasn’t.’
Kaitlan Collins opened Friday’s show by saying their controversial co-host ‘has the day off’ as Poppy Harlow joked that she was going to ‘complain to bosses’ after going to the all-star NBA game in Utah.
Lemon was replaced for the day by Audie Cornish, as the show avoided acknowledging the comments he made the day before despite rising calls for him to be squeezed out.
Lemon, 56, went ‘ballistic’ at staffers who highlighted the spat with Collins, according to RadarOnline – with the host claiming she ‘interrupted him’ during a December broadcast
CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com, but the hosts did reference that Lemon would be missing from the show on Thursday.
They said: ‘A special treat. Audie is going to be joining us tomorrow, Don’s going to be off, Poppy is going to be on assignment anchoring from Salt Lake City.’
However, the announcement came two hours after his initial comments during a 6.30am segment of the show – with Lemon laughing and telling Audie ‘this is a hot seat, I hope you can handle it.’
Insiders told DailyMail.com that Lemon is ‘rude, self-righteous and clearly sexist’, adding that ‘his apology meant nothing.’
They said: ‘Don has been skating on thin ice for so long and many wanted him fired in December when he freaked out on Kaitlin Collins for no reason. She was in tears and it was so inappropriate.
‘Regardless of his political affiliation, his comments that Nikki Haley being past her prime were disgusting. Poppy was fuming, as she should be, and still is.
‘He is rude, self-righteous and clearly sexist. Nikki did the right thing by calling him out.
‘His apology meant nothing and there is so much pressure for him to be canned. It would be a shock if he wasn’t.’
Collins, 30, the youngest chief White House Correspondent on CNN, reportedly wants to be on set with the anchor ‘as little as possible’ after the incident. Pictured: Lemon with co-stars Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins at an NBA game
The CNN This Morning host allegedly made Kaitlan Collins run from the set in tears on December 8 after he berated her in front of the television crew and their other co-host
Collins was also quick to sing the praises of Cornish, her co-host for a day, by posting a picture of them together on her Instagram.
Harlow, Lemon and Collins had been discussing Haley’s proposal during a speech on Wednesday where she announced her run for president.
Lemon, who is five years older than Haley, 51, said the politician should tread lightly on the topic because ‘a woman is in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.’
Haley herself responded to Lemon’s comments, saying: ‘It’s always the liberals who are the most sexist’ in a tweet with a clip of the video segment.
Lemon apologized for his comments on Thursdays show, and tweeted: ‘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.’
He traveled to Beverly Hills with his partner Tim Malone for the Grammys after reports of the row with Collins
Lemon used to have his own show Don Lemon Tonight, before Licht canceled it and created the new morning show
A furious Harlow reportedly stormed off the set following the ‘sexist’ exchange on Thursday, sources told the New York Post.
Harlow took a ‘well timed’ bathroom break and was followed into the bathroom by Kaitlan Collins – with the source adding the tense relationship has been ‘smoldering for months’.
Collins had her own run-in with her fellow host, who was seen on camera repeatedly interrupting her throughout the show on December 8.
Lemon allegedly made Collins run from the set in tears on after he berated her in front of the television crew and their other co-host.
After that, he was reportedly told to take a day to ‘cool off’ by boss Chris Licht but instead blew up on staffers after a company newsletter featured a story about his altercation with the White House Correspondent.
It seems as though he has been given the same advice following his ‘sexism row’, though sources at CNN insisted his day off was pre-approved.
CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com, but the hosts did reference that Lemon would be missing from the show on Thursday
One insider said that there was mounting pressure for Lemon to be fired after his continual gaffes on the early-morning show
His comments reportedly left many staff unimpressed, but Lemon has washed off the criticism by relaxing with his partner Tim Mahone at a luxury beach resort
Lemon went ‘ballistic’ at staffers who highlighted the spat with Collins, according to RadarOnline – with the host claiming she ‘interrupted him’ during a December broadcast.
Following the initial spat, Lemon traveled to Beverly Hills with his partner Tim Malone, for the Grammys.
The pair traveled from New York to Los Angeles for the Grammys and seemed to be enjoying the sunshine in the Golden State – ignoring the drama unfolding at home.
Collins, 30, the youngest chief White House Correspondent in the history of CNN, reportedly wants to be on set with the anchor ‘as little as possible’ after the incident.
The argument took place off-camera on December 8, which left Collins ‘visibly upset’ and other members of staff ‘shaken ‘by his outburst.
Since the incident in December, Lemon has been sent to Memphis and on other assignments, while Collins worked remotely from Washington DC on several occasions in January.
Lemon’s December blow-up isn’t the first wrong move he’s made while adjusting to sharing the limelight with his new colleagues.
A week prior he was shot down by Collins and Harlow after they accused him of mansplaining why the US men’s soccer team should get paid more – despite their lack of success.
He insisted that he was joking when he said that men were ‘more interesting to watch’- with the interaction making for awkward viewing.
CNN This Morning has suffered a ratings bomb and early last month experienced its least-viewed week since launch, averaging just over 330,000 viewers.
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