Lemon continued: “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.”

Lemon ended his statement with a thank you to his colleagues.

“With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run,” he wrote. “They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best.”

Licht continued: “CNN This Morninghas been on the air for nearly six months, and we are committed to its success.”

Don Lemon.Dominik Bindl/Getty

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 12: Don Lemon attends The 15th Annual CNN Heroes: All-Star Tribute at American Museum of Natural History on December 12, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Dominik Bindl/Getty Images)

Lemon made the remarks during a Feb. 16 episode ofCNN This Morning, while discussing politicians' ages in a segment with co-hostsPoppy Harlow, 40, andKaitlan Collins, 30.

Lemon continued, “She says … politicians are not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry. A woman is considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”

Viewers were quick to call Lemon’s remarks sexist and ageist, with many also highlighting that he is five years older than Haley.

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Lemon’s announcement came on the heels of another bombshell media shakeup after Fox News announcedTucker Carlson would leave its network.

In a statement issued roughly an hour before Lemon’s tweet, the network said “FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor.”

source: people.com