CNN Chairman Chris Licht has reportedly rebuked anchor Don Lemon over his controversial remarks against Nikki Haley, describing them as a “huge distraction” to the media company.
Lemon, 56, who co-hosts “CNN This Morning,” drew backlash after Thursday’s episode for stating that the 51-year-old GOP presidential candidate was no longer in her “prime.”
This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable. I think it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, you know, politicians are something and not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry. A woman is considered to be in their prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.
Lemon was commenting on Haley’s call for competency tests for politicians over 75 at her candidacy announcement in Charleston, South Carolina, on Wednesday. That sparked accusations of ageism against the Indian American candidate, who then pointed out the “liberal” hypocrisy in Lemon’s remarks.
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
On Thursday afternoon, the CNN anchor took to Twitter to apologize for his words, saying they were “inartful and irrelevant.”
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.
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.
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 16, 2023
In an editorial call Friday morning,…
Read the full article here