Although, CNN in general has been a toxic workplace… “CNN This Morning” is becoming much worst…
Because on Tuesday’s segment during a commercial break, progressive host Don Lemon criticized an interview conducted by a colleague, in his opinion monologue, Lemon criticized the interview between Republican Rep. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, and co-host Kaitlin Collins. As Collins and Comer were discussing upcoming House investigations into Hunter Biden and his infamous laptop.
Comer also brought up the Twitter Files and how it appeared from internal correspondence that the FBI specifically selected news about Biden for repression. The decision to restrict the New York Post for breaking the story on Hunter Biden’s laptop in October 2020, only one month before the presidential election, was discussed in the thread along with messages from former Twitter workers.
And Lemon just couldn’t contain himself and refused to cut to a planned commercial, when the clip was done playing.
Lemon apparently upset that she didn’t challenge Comer enough, said of Collins’ interview, “That’s the time that we’re in, that facts are sort of flexible.”
Dip @donlemon Calls Off Commercial Break to Go Off on @kaitlancollins Interview With #JamesComer. Which I don’t understand, since she did a good job. Props to @PoppyHarlowCNN for standing up for her colleague. pic.twitter.com/TFiznFyqjb
— Sn00pster (@sn00pdad) February 8, 2023
When co-host Penny Harlow tried to transition Lemon’s criticism of the interview, Lemon wouldn’t “move on.”
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and people who “don’t believe in facts, or have a shared reality,” were among the targets of a time as Lemon continued to criticize when he directed his crew to delay a commercial break at one point.
Harlow praised Collins for the interview, as Lemon’s criticism didn’t go unchallenged. However, to viewers and observers, Lemon was also in hot water and they say he criticized his treatment of his female colleagues. Lemon’s monologue was disrespectful, as Cable news veteran Megyn Kelly pointed out. As other viewers speculated that Lemon was even trying to get fired with others who also called for Lemon’s termination from CNN.
I have co-anchored w/the best of them. Never has a colleague so disrespectfully tried to “correct” my interview on the air or “mansplain” to me how I did it all wrong-in front of the audience no less! CNN-how much longer are u going to allow this to go on? https://t.co/edrDwkM5CW
— Megyn Kelly (@megynkelly) February 7, 2023
He is a bully. He needs to go. Disgusting.
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) February 7, 2023
He’s obviously trying to get fired
— LG (@LorenaG61629711) February 8, 2023
However, Curtis Houck of Newsbusters created a supercut of Lemon and Collins interrupting one another, lending credence to the idea that they don’t have the best relationship, as not only did Lemon and his co-hosts have an uneasy interaction.
It wasn’t until later in the show when Lemon finally praised Collins, possibly in an attempt to mitigate the damage done earlier, saying:
“As I was watching that very good interview by Kaitlin Collins with Comer, and I had to come out and say something because he is citing sources as credible that are not credible, he is talking about facts of something that’s kind of flexible, and maybe you believe one thing or maybe another, facts are facts.”
Awkward. Supercut by @CurtisHouck of Don Lemon and Kaitlan Collins interrupting each other on just one broadcast of CNN This Morning. pic.twitter.com/8hw23vFtsT
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) February 6, 2023
In a recent report from the New York Post, several sources said that Lemon reportedly struggled to adjust to working with co-hosts, last year. Tensions continue to rise as the show tanks and as Lemon, apparently, is unhappy sharing on-air duties with Collins and fellow co-host Poppy Harlow. Lemon’s strained relationship with his co-hosts, has included workplace squabbles and yelling, as CNN insiders described.
“According to two sources with knowledge of the situation, the 56-year-old Lemon approached 30-year-old Collins following the show’s Thursday, Dec. 8 broadcast — and unloaded on her in front of staffers as he accused her of interrupting him on air. News of the explosive incident made its way up to CNN CEO Chris Licht, who is said to have been appalled by Lemon’s behavior, according to a source. A second source said a producer talked to Lemon at the behest of Licht and told the anchor to take the next day off to ‘cool off,” the post noted.
Sources: WesternJournal, New York Post, Fox News
