DON Lemon has been fired from CNN just months after his inflammatory remarks about middle-aged women.
The bombshell news came as a shock to the now-former CNN This Morning co-host, who appeared on the air on Monday morning as usual.
"I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned," Lemon said in a statement after the broadcast.
"After 17 years at CNN I would have thought 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.
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"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."
CNN disputed Lemon's claims that he was blindsided, calling his remarks "inaccurate."
"Don Lemon's statement about this morning's events is inaccurate," the television network said.
"He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter."
CNN This Morning will continue with Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, the network announced.
The ground-shaking cable news move came less than an hour after Fox News parted ways with host Tucker Carlson.
Fox News announced that the move would be effective immediately, adding that Carlson's last program was Friday, April 21.
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Lemon arrived at CNN in 2006 and spent the past five months co-hosting CNN This Morning alongside Collins and Harlow.
Upon his arrival, Lemon was viewed as a rising star on the network, but he began to lose support after he made remarks in February about women and aging that were widely regarded as sexist.
The on-air moment came during the discussion about 51-year-old Nikki Hayley's presidential campaign.
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Lemon asserted that Haley was "not in her prime," adding that "a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s."
The comment sparked a tense on-air moment with Harlow, 41, who asked: “Wait… prime for what?
"I think we need to qualify. Are you talking about prime for childbearing, or are you talking about prime for being president?"
Lemon replied: "Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are," adding: "Google it."
Following the controversial statement, Lemon issued an apology on Twitter, admitting his reference to a woman’s "prime" was "inartful and irrelevant."
CNN immediately pulled Lemon off the air, only for him to reappear nearly a week later without addressing the scandal during the three-hour segment of This Morning.
Instead, the under-fire host apologized on social media 30 minutes before appearing on CNN This Morning, saying: "I appreciate the opportunity to be back on @CNNThisMorning today.
"To my network, my colleagues, and our incredible audience — I’m sorry. I’ve heard you, I’m learning from you, and I’m committed to doing better. See you soon."
Last week, the New York Post reported that White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre refused to be interviewed by Lemon during her appearance on This Morning.
Jean-Pierre was a guest on the program on Thursday, however, she apparently made it clear to the network that her appearance was on the condition that the star anchor would not interview her.
"The White House asked for her not to be interviewed by Don," a source with knowledge of the incident told the Post.
A second source close to CNN told the Post that Jean-Pierre wouldn't go on the show if Lemon was asking the questions.
She was instead interviewed by the show's co-host, Poppy Harlow.
Jean-Pierre's reps did not explain the reason behind her demand, however, insiders theorized that it was due to Lemon's on-air mistakes, according to the source.
