Don Lemon Absent From CNN Morning Show One Day After Saying Women Are Past Their Prime After Their 30s

Don Lemon, Nikki Haley

Don Lemon Absent From CNN Morning Show One Day After Saying Women Are Past Their Prime After A Certain Age

Don Lemon is in the hot seat again, but this time it may be for good. 

Don Lemon took the day off from “The Morning Show” a day after his “sexist” remarks about women being “past their prime” which he later apologized for. On Thursday’s (Feb. 16) episode of the show, Don Lemon and his female co-hosts gave their point of view on Nikki Haley’s request that politicians at the age of 75 and up should go through mental competency exams.

Don Lemon and co-hosts Poppy Harlow, Kaitlan Collins

After discussing the republican’s during a speech she made on Wednesday (Feb. 15) where she announced her run for president, Lemon said:

“This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable. I think it’s a wrong road to go down.”

He continued:

“She says ‘politicians are something and not in their prime,’ Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry a woman is considered being in her prime in her 20’s and 30’s and maybe 40’s.”

Amid his co-hosts seemingly getting upset by his comments, Lemon clarified:

“That’s not according to me.”

He explained:

“When you google ‘when is a woman in her prime’ it’ll say 20’s 30’s and 40’s. I’m not saying I agree with that, so I think she has to be careful about saying that politicians aren’t in their prime –”

During his co-host’s attempt to disagree with his remarks, he added:

“Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just saying what the facts are. Google it.”

Later that morning, Nikki Haley got wind of the video, finding Lemon’s comments to be “sexist”. The former South Carolina governor shared the clip of the journalist’s remarks on Twitter and wrote:

“Liberals can’t stand the idea of having competency tests for older politicians to make sure they can do the job.”

Nikki Haley, 51, added:

“BTW it’s always the liberals who are the most sexist.”

Liberals can't stand the idea of having competency tests for older politicians to make sure they can do the job.

BTW it's always the liberals who are the most sexist. pic.twitter.com/PzpniQFLff

— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 16, 2023

A few hours later, Lemon’s remarks went viral and generated scrutiny online. The 56-year-old took to Twitter to apologize for his “inartful and irrelevant” comments. He said:

“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.”

Reportedly, Lemon has found himself in trouble in recent weeks. Sources detailed the host to be “rude, self-righteous and clearly sexist” insisting that “his apology meant nothing.” Lemon’s boss, Chris Licht, has been reportedly under pressure to fire the host due to a consistent amount of complaints from colleagues and the media, including his spat in December with his female co-host which caused her to run off set hysterically. A source 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.”

The source continued:

“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.”

The source added:

“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.”

The television anchor had his own show “Don Lemon Tonight” since 2014 before it was canceled last October to begin the process of airing the new morning show. 

What are your thoughts on Don Lemon being absent from “The Morning Show” a day after he apologized for his  “sexist” remarks? Tell us below.

[VIA 1,2]