Don Lemon says he’s been ‘terminated’ by CNN; network says statement ‘inaccurate’

U.S. broadcaster Don Lemon is out at CNN.

In a statement posted to Twitter Monday, Lemon says he was “informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN.”

“I am stunned,” the long-time CNN anchor wrote. “After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly.”

pic.twitter.com/8PyLqvS0d7

— Don Lemon (@donlemon) April 24, 2023

Lemon suggests the news came out of left field, saying “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. With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run. They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best,” Lemon’s statement concluded.

However, the network is refuting Lemon’s claims, saying his “statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate.”

“He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter,” CNN wrote in a tweet.

Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.

— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) April 24, 2023

That rebuttal from the network came after it made its own announcement about Lemon’s departure, saying the pair had “parted ways.”

“Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors,” the tweet reads.

CNN and Don have parted ways. Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.

— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) April 24, 2023

His time at CNN was not without controversy. The broadcaster was briefly removed from the air in February after questioning Republican presidential candidate Niki Haley for calling out President Joe Biden for being too old.

“I think that, I think it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, politicians are something and not in their prime, Niki Haley is not in her prime,” he said at the time.

Lemon most recently a co-host for CNN This Morning, with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. Prior to that, he was the host of Don Lemon tonight, a two-hour show from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. ET that covered the day’s biggest stories.

News of Lemon’s departure comes the same day Fox News announced Tucker Carlson was leaving its network.

It said in a statement “FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways,” adding, “We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor.”

Neither the network nor Carlson have offered an explanation as to why he was leaving.

-With files from Michael Ranger