CNN ousts host Don Lemon, who responds with fiery tweet
Host Don Lemon has been fired by CNN, he announced Monday afternoon.
“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated. I am stunned,” Lemon wrote in a statement posted to Twitter.
He had worked at the outlet for 17 years, and said he believed “that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly.”
“At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network. It is clear that there are some larger issues at play,” he wrote.
Shortly after Lemon’s announcement, CNN characterized the situation as the company having “parted ways” with the host.
“Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions,” the company tweeted. “We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”
CNN then pushed back on the host's statement, calling his claims "inaccurate." Instead of being fired without warning, the company tweeted that Lemon was "offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter."
The high-profile departure comes just after Fox News announced that host Tucker Carlson was leaving the outlet. It’s a major shift for both companies, as they lose two of the most popular hosts on cable television.