Megyn Kelly appeared to be taught reside on air that Don Lemon had been fired from his internet hosting duties at CNN whereas recording her podcast, “The Megyn Kelly Present,” on Monday. In her response, she admitted that she’s “not precisely Don Lemon’s fan,” however she contended that if the dismissal rolled out the best way Lemon claimed it did, then it was a “classless” transfer from the community and CEO Chris Licht.
“Oh my god, so there’s now breaking information from CNN,” Kelly mentioned, nonetheless recovering from a previous dialogue about Tucker Carlson’s Fox Information exit. She joked, “Oh my god, am I nonetheless employed myself?”
Responding to Lemon’s declare that he realized of his firing over the cellphone through his agent slightly than by Licht and CNN’s higher administration talking with him instantly, she conceded that he’s “not fallacious” and that “if that’s true,” he deserved higher remedy from the community.
“All people is aware of I’m not precisely Don Lemon’s fan, however he’s not fallacious that — if that’s true, that he was simply instructed by his agent he was fired, they usually didn’t have the balls to inform him man-to-man — that’s simply classless. He’s received a proper to complain about that,” Kelly mentioned.
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“One thing should’ve occurred right here,” she continued. “There will need to have been one thing like a remaining straw.”
In dialog with “The Megyn Kelly Present” government producer Steve Krakauer, Kelly later revisited her curiosity of what that remaining straw may need been.
“Their scores on that morning present are in the bathroom. The whole daytime and primetime scores and CNN are in the bathroom. Their predominant competitor MSNBC is doubling them proper now. They received nothing going — completely nothing,” Kelly mentioned. “And I’m positive he’s making a pleasant wage. However to date, he’s been untouchable. So I’d love to seek out out what modified, as a result of the final straw felt very sudden.”
Lemon tweeted early Monday that after 17 years, he had been fired from CNN.
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“I used to be knowledgeable this morning by my agent that I’ve terminated by CNN,” the “CNN This Morning” host wrote. “After 17 years at CNN I might have thought that somebody in administration would have had the decency to inform me instantly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I might not be capable of proceed to do the work I’ve liked on the community.”
The anchor concluded by saying “it’s clear that there are some bigger points at play” and proceeded thank his colleagues and the numerous groups he have labored with for an “unimaginable run.”
CNN in flip launched an announcement saying that opposite to his claims, administration did attain out to Lemon.
“Don Lemon’s assertion about this morning’s occasions is inaccurate,” the community mentioned. “He was provided a chance to fulfill with administration however as a substitute launched an announcement on Twitter.”
The assertion adopted an inner memo from Licht, who mentioned that “CNN This Morning,” the morning present that Lemon anchored alongside Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, has been on the air for practically six months and the community is “dedicated to its success.”
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“CNN and Don have parted methods,” CNN CEO Chris Licht wrote within the memo. “Don will ceaselessly be part of the CNN household, and we thank him for his contributions over the previous 17 years. We want him effectively and will likely be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”
The dismissal comes two months after public and inner outcry over Lemon’s declare that Republican presidential Nikki Haley “just isn’t in her prime,” including {that a} lady is “mentioned to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and perhaps 40s.”
From there, Selection revealed earlier this month a report that unveiled allegations from the cable information anchor’s sprawling profession, together with accusations of misogyny, mocking feminine staffers and reckless “diva-like” habits — accusations that Lemon vehemently denied.
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Loree Seitz contributed to this story.