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Don Lemon Makes Backhanded Comment About Jon Stewart Being A Comedian During CNN Broadcast…Then Awkwardly Backtracks

Don Lemon has been accused of having a sour attitude toward his colleagues and competition, and today, he made Jon Stewart his target. The news anchor made a seemingly off-mic remark about Stewart during today’s CNN broadcast. 

While hosting the network’s morning program alongside Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, Lemon diverted to a clip of Stewart interviewing U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks about the Department of Defense’s $850 billion budget. 

Stewart criticized the allocations of those funds, telling a defensive Hicks, “I can’t figure out how $850 billion to a department means that the rank and file still have to be on food stamps. To me, that’s fucking corruption.”

The former television host isn’t new to this battle, and in the past, has expressed advocacy for 9/11 first responders and military personnel, specifically when it comes to health benefits. Stewart strongly advocated for the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, which expanded healthcare access and funding to veterans; he received a shout-out from U.S. President Joe Biden amid the signing of the bill.

But all hell broke loose at the CNN studio when the clip concluded and Lemon was heard making a sly remark about Stewart’s expertise to his co-anchors. In a video provided by TMZ, Lemon is heard saying, “He gets a lot of leeway with the comedian thing, though.”

The broadcast proceeded with an awkward silence that lasted for a few seconds until Lemon interjected, “We were just discussing that Jon Stewart is so much more than a comedian.” He hesitated to support his comment, calling Stewart a “thought leader” before Harlow added that he “culturally needs no introduction.”

She continued to say that Stewart “has stood up so long for veteran rights and fought so loud and so hard, and uses his big platform to keep doing some.” Their co-anchor, Collins, turned the attention back to the Secretary of Defense, adding that Stewart was asking “ important questions” and Hicks wasn’t providing “sufficient answers.” 

Lemon, again, tried to add clarity to his comment: “When I said comedian and television host, I mean he’s so much more than that. But good… uh… interview there.”

Now, I don’t want to nit-pick the situation, but with Lemon already having a poor track record for his behavior toward others — especially when it comes to throwing shade at work — this doesn’t look good. It also doesn’t make sense for Lemon to be talking about the “leeway” Stewart gets for being a comedian. If the comment was meant as a compliment, what “leeway” was he addressing? On top of that, there is the common conception that over explaining is often an admission of guilt, and boy, did Lemon seem guilty.

I’d give a million dollars to know what was said over Lemon’s headset when they realized his comments were live. I suspect it was some variation of “Oh, f–k!” 

When reached for comment by Decider, CNN declined to comment on Lemon’s remarks.



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Don Lemon returning to CNN show Wednesday after ‘frank’ talk with boss

CNN anchor Don Lemon will be back on the air Wednesday morning and will undergo “formal training” after his return over sexist comments he made last week, according to multiple reports.

The development was shared with staff in a Monday night memo from CNN boss Chris Licht, who said he had a “frank and meaningful conversation” with Lemon, who’s been absent as co-host of “CNN This Morning” since last Friday.

A day earlier, Lemon controversially remarked on air that 51-year-old GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley “isn’t in her prime.”

Lemon’s comments drew immediate blowback and he didn’t appear on the show with co-hosts Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow Friday or Monday, but will be back Wednesday, per the internal memo viewed by the Wall Street Journal.


CNN boss Chris Licht said he and Don Lemon had a “frank and meaningful conversation” about the remarks toward Haley.
Getty Images for CNN

Licht said in the memo Lemon will “participate in formal training,” after he’s back, according to the newspaper.

“I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation. He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously,” Licht said in the memo obtained by Fox News Digital. 


Don Lemon will return to CNN television Wednesday morning following his brief hiatus.
Getty Images

“It is important to me that CNN balances accountability with a fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes. To that end, Don will return to CNN This Morning on Wednesday,” Licht additionally said, according to Fox News.

Lemon’s comments came after he responded to Haley’s call for mental competency tests for politicians older than 75 during her presidential kickoff last Wednesday.

“This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable,” Lemon said. “I think it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry — when a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”


Don Lemon made a brief comment about Nikki Haley’s proposal on politicians older than 75 needing to take competency tests.
CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

Lemon apologized later that day on Twitter, and then to CNN staff on a call Friday. On that same call, Licht called Lemon’s statements “unacceptable.”

A CNN spokesperson told the New York Times Monday night that “the company has a number of resources and Don is committed to our recommendation.”

The spokesperson did not say more because it is a personnel matter.

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Don Lemon claims covering politics in primetime gig had ‘gotten old’

CNN anchor Don Lemon revealed Thursday that he felt the political focus of his nixed primetime show had gotten stale prior to his move to the struggling cable network’s revamped morning show.

Lemon, who is set to serve as co-host of the new “CNN This Morning” beginning Nov. 1, said he grew “tired” of the politically charged nature of primetime news.

“I would be lying to you if I didn’t say that was a factor,” Lemon told Semafor in an interview published Wednesday.

The left-leaning anchor was known for frequently targeting former President Donald Trump in nightly monologues.

“Look, has it been frustrating over the last couple of years having to deal with politics in the way it’s been dealt with in primetime? Yes. Was I tired of it? In some ways, yeah it’s gotten old,” Lemon told the outlet. “But I also think we were transitioning to a different time.”

Lemon noted changes in the news cycle as the war in Ukraine supplanted Trump mania as CNN’s main topic of conversation in primetime, adding he “was ready to move on and I think the audience is ready to move on as well.”

Don Lemon said he grew tired of the political focus of his primetime show.
YouTube/Hell Of A Week

The 56-year-old anchor couldn’t resist taking another shot at Trump, telling Semafor the former president “didn’t have the courage” to submit to an interview on his primetime show, “Don Lemon Tonight.”

Lemon is moving from primetime to mornings as CNN President Chris Licht leads an overhaul at the network. Licht and top brass at WarnerBros. Discovery are trying to shift the network toward centrist news coverage rather than the opinion-based programming that has seen its ratings crater.

“Don Lemon Tonight” recently aired its last show.
CNN

Lemon denied the network’s nudging under new leadership has been “uncomfortable” and expressed support for Licht’s vision.

“I really like Chris. When I read stories about what’s happening at CNN and about Chris and what he’s doing, I think it’s unfair,” Lemon said. “I think people should give him a chance. Everyone has a new vision when they come in as a new boss. Let’s see what his vision is and how it plays out.”

CNN is in the midst of massive shakeup.
CNN

The nixed “Don Lemon Tonight” struggled with low ratings prior to CNN’s shakeup. Despite losing a coveted primetime gig, Lemon has insisted his shift to mornings is a “promotion.”

Lemon is set to host “CNN This Morning” alongside fellow anchors Kaitlin Collins and Poppy Harlow. The show will air weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

He also provided a glimpse into how he plans to approach his new gig, telling Semafor that he will “be wearing what I wear in my normal everyday life” to reflect the more casual environment.

“I’m just going to be myself. It seems to have worked for the past however many decades in the business,” Lemon said. “I’m really not concerned about the ratings. I’m concerned about making it the best morning show possible and appealing to multiple demographics and people who are interested in other things than raw, tribal politics.”

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CNN taps Don Lemon, Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow to anchor morning show

Ratings-challenged CNN will reshuffle the deck chairs on the slowly-sinking network, pushing out left-leaning primetime host Don Lemon from his plum solo slot to a newly-created morning team, boss Chris Licht announced Thursday.

Lemon will join Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow to replace current “New Day” hosts John Berman and Brianna Keilar.

Lemon’s long-anticipated demotion comes after Licht was tasked by new corporate overlord Warner Bros. Discovery to shift CNN away from opinion-based shows to more centrist reporting of the news.

Last month, the network canned Brian Stelter, the outspoken host of the now canceled “Reliable Sources.”

Lemon — who often espoused his liberal opinions on his 10 pm show “Don Lemon Tonight” — helmed the lowest-ranked program in primetime in August, averaging 660,000 viewers to finish a distant third to Fox and MSNBC.

Kaitlin Collins and Don Lemon will be join Poppy Harlow as co-hosts of CNN’s new morning show.
Getty Images

A rep for CNN said the network will be making an announcement on who will replace Lemon in the next few weeks.

Insiders have earmarked Kasie Hunt as a possible replacement for Lemon, or for the 9 p.m. slot, which was left open when Chris Cuomo was fired last year over his role in advising his older brother, then-New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, in his sex harassment scandal.

Poppy Harlow, who has filled in at “New Day,” will co-host the new morning show.
Getty Images for TIME

Sources recently told The Post that Licht “has his work cut out for him” as he tries to pump up the network’s ratings.

In August, Fox News dominated with nine shows making the top 10 highest-rated cable news shows. Only MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow pulled out a fifth-place ranking with 2.7 million viewers, lagging behind Fox’s “The Five” (3.4 million), “Tucker Carlson Tonight” (3.3 million), “Hannity” (2.9 million) and “Jesse Watters Primetime” (2.9 million).

The only CNN show to crack the top 25 was “Anderson Cooper 360” — in 25th place with 950,000 viewers.

Meanwhile, “New Day,” came in 42nd place out of 82 cable news shows, bringing in 396,000 total viewers.

CNN did not provide a start date for the changes but said it will rename “New Day” and update its set later this year. Berman and Keilar will remain at the network, Licht said.

Don Lemon is moved to the morning show as ratings at his primetime show continued to sink.
Getty Images

The exec is known for his previous success launching MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and revamping CBS’ morning show, which was then called “CBS This Morning.” Both shows brought about a lively conversation about current topics and news of the day with a broad selection of guests.

“There is no stronger combination of talent than Don, Poppy and Kaitlan to deliver on our promise of a game-changing morning news program,” Licht said Thursday. “They are each uniquely intelligent, reliable and compelling; together they have a rare and palpable chemistry. Combined with CNN’s resources and global newsgathering capabilities, we will offer a smart, bold and refreshing way to start the day.”

Harlow has most recently served as an anchor of “CNN Newsroom,” as well as a relief presenter at “New Day,” while Collins served as a White House correspondent for the network.

The rejuggling also comes after Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said he is looking  to shore up at least $3 billion in cost savings in 2023 across the company. Earlier this year, the parent company shuttered CNN+, the network’s month-old streaming service, laying off roughly 300 staffers.

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