Don Lemon will quickly be returning to CNN after stirring up controversy with sexist remarks made the remaining week.
According to a memo despatched out to CNN personnel on Monday night, Lemon will endure “formal training” as section of his return to his function as an anchor of CNN This Morning.
“I sat down with Don and had a frank and significant conversation,” CNN CEO Chris Licht wrote in an email, CNN reports. “He has agreed to take part in formal training, as properly as persevering with to pay attention and learn. We take this state of affairs very seriously.”
Lemon stirred controversy on Thursday when discussing South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s lately introduced presidential candidacy and remarks she made calling for intellectual competency checks for presidential candidates over 75.
Lemon addressed the remarks to his co-anchors — Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins — and quipped that Haley, 51, “isn’t in her prime” herself. When pressed on the remark by using his fellow anchors, Lemon doubled down, arguing, “If you Google ‘when is a girl in her prime,’ it’ll say the 20s, 30s, and 40s.”
The remarks drew immediate warmness from critics and lead to Lemon now not acting on CNN This Morning for the first two days of the week. However, he is set to return to the exhibit on Wednesday.
“It is essential to me that CNN balances accountability with … fostering a subculture in which human beings can own, research and development from their mistakes,” Licht wrote in his e-mail to CNN staffers. “To that end, Don will return to CNN This Morning on Wednesday.”
Lemon first apologized publicly on Twitter on Thursday, after the episode in which he made the sexist comments, writing, “The reference I made to a woman’s ‘prime’ this morning was once inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and cherished ones have pointed out, and I will be apologetic about it. A woman’s age does not outline her both in my view and professionally. I have limitless ladies in my lifestyles who show that each day.”
The reference I made to a woman’s “prime” this morning used to be inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and cherished ones have pointed out, and I will be apologetic about it. A woman’s age does not outline her both in my view and professionally. I have infinite girls in my life who show that each and every day.
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 16, 2023
On Friday, Lemon was once additionally given the chance to tackle CNN staffers and apologized for his comments.
“I’m sorry that I stated it. And I in reality see why humans discovered it totally misguided,” Lemon said, CNN reported. “When I make a mistake, I very own it. And I personal this one as well.”
Lemon careworn “I agree with that ladies of any age… can do something they set their minds to.” adding, “The human beings I am closest to in this enterprise are women… The humans I am searching for advice from most in this agency are women.”