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Not so dandy but happily gay Don Lemon of CNN fame has gotten into hot water this year for making a derogatory comment about women. This seems to be his habit because this wasn't the first time he's said things that are clearly misogynistic.
A bombshell report in Variety Wednesday made serious allegations about Lemon's past like his sending threatening text messages to women he believes he is tougher than, and he has repeatedly shown misogynistic and "diva-like" behavior that would make Dylan Mulvaney proud. Of course, CNN downplayed the claims, calling them "patently false anecdotes."
In 2008, "The Lemon" co-anchored CNN's weekend show "Live From" alongside Kyra Phillips, where he had what Variety called "concerning" antipathy with his female colleague.
"For months, tensions between the pair kept mounting. On more than one occasion, a ‘Live From’ producer and a newsroom supervisor had to pull Lemon off the air during a commercial break because of the anchor’s provocative antics," Variety’s Tatiana Siegel reported.
"While Phillips was on assignment in Iraq — a high-profile gig that Lemon coveted — he vented his disappointment at being passed over by tearing up pictures and notes on top of and inside Phillips’ desk in the news pod they shared, according to two sources who worked there at the time. When she returned from Iraq, things only got weirder," Siegel continued. "One night while dining with members of the news team, she received the first of two threatening text messages from an unknown number on her flip phone that warned, ‘Now you’ve crossed the line, and you’re going to pay for it.’"
Phillips was "was visibly rattled and quickly enlisted CNN’s higher ups to identify the sender," according to Variety. And who could blame her? What did the threat mean by 'pay for it'? It sounded ominous and very serious.
"Remarkably, the texts were traced back to Lemon, according to those same sources. A human resources investigation was launched, and while the findings were never disclosed to the growing pool of staffers who were aware of the situation, Lemon was abruptly pulled from his co-anchor duties with Phillips and moved to the weekends. It was a demotion by any objective measure and understood to be some kind of disciplinary action," Siegel wrote.
Phillips was "was visibly rattled and quickly enlisted CNN’s higher ups to identify the sender," according to Variety. And who could blame her? What did the threat mean by 'pay for it'? It sounded ominous and very serious.
"Remarkably, the texts were traced back to Lemon, according to those same sources. A human resources investigation was launched, and while the findings were never disclosed to the growing pool of staffers who were aware of the situation, Lemon was abruptly pulled from his co-anchor duties with Phillips and moved to the weekends. It was a demotion by any objective measure and understood to be some kind of disciplinary action," Siegel wrote.
But the Compromised News Network took the side of Lemon.
A CNN spokesperson provided the outlet with the following comment: "Don says the alleged incident never occurred and that he was never notified of any investigation. CNN cannot corroborate the alleged events from 15 years ago."
Possibly fearing for her life, Phillips, who now works for ABC News, declined to provide Variety with a comment.
Lemon was not paired with female co-anchors again until his demotion in 2022, when CNN's CEO Chris Licht removed him from primetime and made him the focus of the newly launched "CNN This Morning" alongside Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. Lemon's ratings at the time were lower than whale poop, and that's at the bottom of the ocean.
In February, Lemon infuriated female staffers after he said that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was "past her prime" at age 51. He swore it was true and suggested to his female colleagues to "google it."
The dumbest dude in the news then attempted a mea culpa during the network's morning editorial call the following morning after his comments were widely condemned as sexist, but it didn’t go over like a fart in a crowded elevator.
Lemon was benched for a few days but continued to anger colleagues when he used the time off to relax on a Miami beach in full view of the paparazzi.
CNN deserves Lemon. They are a media laughingstock with less credibility than China's claim that the spy balloon was privately owned.
"The incident has spotlighted Lemon’s troubling treatment of women and unprofessional antics, dating back nearly two decades. Variety spoke with more than a dozen former and current colleagues who painted a picture of a journalist who flouted rules and cozied up to power all while displaying open hostility to many female co-workers. Each and every time, he appeared to charm his way out of facing any meaningful consequences," Siegel wrote.
"The incident has spotlighted Lemon’s troubling treatment of women and unprofessional antics, dating back nearly two decades. Variety spoke with more than a dozen former and current colleagues who painted a picture of a journalist who flouted rules and cozied up to power all while displaying open hostility to many female co-workers. Each and every time, he appeared to charm his way out of facing any meaningful consequences," Siegel wrote.
Then there was the time that Lemon clashed with Kaitlan Collins live on air and a video made the rounds in February where Lemon refused to let the show go to a commercial break while criticizing Kentucky Republican James Comer, after an interview Collins had just finished with him.
As Harlow praised Collins for her interviewing skills and said "moving on," Lemon said, "Not moving on," and proceeded to make a speech about having a "shared reality." He also admonished the show's producers to cut the music, so he could speak.
And he still works for CNN.
The incident with Collins came after comments the idiot made about the U.S. men’s national soccer team deserving higher pay than the women’s team because they are "more interesting." Had he said they deserve more money than the women's soccer team because they bring in more revenue, he would have made a convincing argument, but he didn't. Evidently, watching men in shorts and muscular legs running up and down the pitch is more interesting for him than watching women do the same.
Variety reported that Lemon’s colleagues consider him "diva-like," and "a shameless name dropper," who openly dated a much younger male junior employee long before he came out of the closet.
Variety reported that Lemon’s colleagues consider him "diva-like," and "a shameless name dropper," who openly dated a much younger male junior employee long before he came out of the closet.
Lemon really does not appear to like women. He called one of his producers 'fat' to her face. He even mocked Nancy Grace on air by mimicking her, Siegel wrote.
Variety also reported that Lemon once suggested former CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien "isn’t Black" in front of multiple staffers when she was selected to host the high-profile documentary series "Black in America."
O’Brien didn’t deny the allegation telling Variety, "Don has long had a habit of saying idiotic and inaccurate things, so it sounds pretty on brand for him."
CNN attacked the messenger, Variety, when asked for comment about the damning report.
"The story, which is riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete evidence, is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip. It’s amazing and disappointing that Variety would be so reckless," a CNN paid liar told Fox News Digital.
O’Brien didn’t deny the allegation telling Variety, "Don has long had a habit of saying idiotic and inaccurate things, so it sounds pretty on brand for him."
CNN attacked the messenger, Variety, when asked for comment about the damning report.
"The story, which is riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete evidence, is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip. It’s amazing and disappointing that Variety would be so reckless," a CNN paid liar told Fox News Digital.
And while it looks as if CNN will never kiss Lemon goodbye, his ratings on "CNN This Morning" managed only 360,000 total viewers last week compared to 1.9 million for "FOX & Friends."
And he still works for CNN.
