CNN This Morning scrapped 18 months after show started: Poor ratings followed by departure of Kaitlan Collins and Don Lemon scandal
CNN This Morning has been axed just 18 months after the show began, following poor ratings and the departure of two of its presenters.
The program was axed after a series of upheavals, including the dramatic firing of host Don Lemon last year, and the move of another host Kaitlan Collins to her own sbow, according to Page six.
CNN This Morning was billed as a program that would provide viewers with “accuracy” and “context” on news stories across America when it launched in November 2022.
But it was marred by scandals, including the sacking of controversial presenter Lemon after he made a series of sexist comments on air and insulted an alleged rape victim during an interview.
The dramatic departure came amid rising tensions between Lemon and his then co-presenter Collins, after he allegedly reduced her to tears by ‘screaming’ at her in front of the television crew and third presenter Poppy Harlow.
CNN This Morning has been canceled just 18 months after the show began, following poor ratings and the departure of two of its hosts, Don Lemon (pictured center) and Kaitlan Collins (pictured right)
Sources told the New York Post that Lemon, 57, blew up at Collins, 31, on December 8, 2022, accusing her of interrupting him multiple times during the broadcast. Collins is said to have walked off the set in tears.
Collins also left the show in the spring of 2023 to take over the network’s prized 9 p.m. timeslot left vacant by Chris Cuomo’s high-profile firing, leaving Harlow as the only member of the original trio left standing.
According to Page Six, the current hosts – Harlow and Phil Mattingly – will now be off the air.
This is a breaking news story. Updates will follow.