In a shocking turn of events, a bombshell report has surfaced, shedding light on an intense behind-the-scenes struggle at CNN involving former star Don Lemon. According to The Atlantic’s Tim Alberta, who profiled new CNN boss Chris Licht, Lemon allegedly threatened CNN with an Al Sharpton shakedown if they dared to terminate his employment. The report has sent shockwaves through the failing network, sparking immediate backlash and forcing Licht to issue an apology to CNN workers today.
Licht addressed the disheartened employees, stating, “To those whose trust I’ve lost, I will fight like hell to win it back because you deserve a leader who will be in the trenches, fighting to ensure CNN remains the world’s most trusted name in news.”
The report delves into extraordinary details, highlighting the strained relationship between Lemon and his co-hosts, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. Lemon’s controversial statement about Nikki Haley’s prime age stirred social media and incensed his colleagues, exacerbating an already tense atmosphere within the newsroom.
Months prior, Lemon’s behavior had been a source of discomfort for the control room staff. He consistently injected half-baked opinions, intruded into every segment, and disregarded Licht’s explicit instructions to avoid superfluous commentary. The situation reached a boiling point when, during a news report in December, Lemon interrupted Collins and publicly berated her afterward, straining their relationship beyond repair.
As Licht grappled with the mounting Lemon problem, top executives urged him to terminate the outspoken anchor. However, Licht hesitated, recognizing the potential backlash and the perception it would create in response to the Nikki Haley incident. Seeking damage control, Lemon proposed a prime-time special on misogyny, but Licht rejected the idea.
In an intriguing twist, the report reveals that Lemon allegedly sought support from influential figures like Al Sharpton and Ben Crump, suggesting they would rally to his defense and make his dismissal a statement about CNN’s lack of diversity. A spokesperson for Lemon denied these allegations, accusing Licht’s team of spreading rumors to deflect attention from Licht’s failures at CNN.
The fallout from this report has already left a lasting impact, leaving CNN grappling with internal strife and a loss of trust. As the situation continues to unfold, CNN faces a critical crossroads in its quest to reclaim its position as the premier news source. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
When Chris Licht took over CNN, it was in free-fall, a disaster, losing its already-tiny audience, with nobody trusting it other than hard-core Dems.
He decided that, to succeed, it must stop being a DNC messaging-machine (MSNBC does that). That's why he's now being destroyed: https://t.co/NX6WOiaM2U
— Glenn Greenwald (@ggreenwald) June 5, 2023
Chris Licht began today's 9am editorial call by congratulating @JakeTapper and the town hall production team for last night's Nikki Haley town hall. Then he addressed @TheAtlantic article and signaled he is staying on as CNN CEO. Here is what he said…
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 5, 2023
"As I read that article, I found myself thinking, CNN is not about me," Licht continued. "I should not be in the news unless it's taking arrows for you. Your work is what should be written about."
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) June 5, 2023