CNN’s female staffers are reportedly furious over Don Lemon’s comments last week about Nikki Haley and are now threatening to quit unless he’s fired.
They aren’t defending Nikki Haley. Rather many of them are over 50, like Haley, and say that Lemon’s comments have made it impossible for them to do their jobs.
Here’s more via Daily Mail:
Furious female staffers at CNN have threatened to quit if Don Lemon stays on-air following his sexist comments last week that Nikki Haley and women in their 40s are ‘past their prime’.
With speculation rife that the embattled host, 56, could exit the troubled network imminently, a source close to the ‘most busted name in news’ told DailyMail.com, ‘if Don doesn’t go, others have threatened to quit’.
‘People are hurt by his actions and are not going to let this go. It is like every woman over 50 in America has taken this as a personal insult. The female staffers at CNN definitely have. He needs to make his vacation a permanent one.’
Indeed, another CNN insider said ‘the women of CNN are angry. He’s made it impossible to do their jobs. He’s an embarrassment to the network and needs to go.’
When approached for comment on female staffers threatening to exit unless Lemon does, a CNN spokesperson declined to specifically address that issue.
When asked if it was true that Don Lemon is being inched towards the exit door in the wake of this latest scandal, another spokesperson for CNN told DailyMail.com, ‘it is patently false to say Don is being pushed to resign’.
However, CNN insiders are adamant, ‘CNN has been literally, flooded like a tidal wave with extremely angry and offended loyal viewers’.
‘There is not one person at CNN who that thinks that he should remain on air. He knows how badly he screwed up and he also knows that he cannot talk his way out of this one. His apology meant nothing.’
Lemon has made several apologies over his remarks, including sending off a tweet shortly after the show, and saying he was sorry to staff during an editorial call.
This is what happens when you hire a bunch of leftist staffers. They get so triggered over sexist comments that they begin making serious demands of the organization.
But who cares, it’s CNN and I’m just going to get the popcorn and enjoy the show.
MAJOR UPDATE: Lemon will return on-air Wednesday morning, but he must also go through some kind of sensitivity training.
Via ABC News:
CNN anchor Don Lemon will return to work Wednesday and will receive “formal training” in the aftermath of his on-air comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, network CEO Chris Licht said in an email to employees Monday night.
The memo, as reported by CNN Business, did not specify what the training would entail. Licht added that it was important to him that the network “balances accountability with … fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes.”
According to The New York Times, Licht chastised Lemon during an editorial call Friday, saying his remarks were “upsetting, unacceptable and unfair” and a “huge distraction.” Lemon appeared at the meeting and apologized to staffers, CNN reported.
“I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation,” Licht wrote in the Monday night memo reported by CNN. “He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously.”
“Don will be back with us tomorrow,” Harlow said at the top of Tuesday morning’s “CNN This Morning.”