>
CNN This Morning hosts Don Lemon and Kaitlan Collins met for the first time Monday since reports surfaced that she ran off crying after he berated her.
The pair had only one icy interaction during the show in which Lemon asked Collins if he recycled.
Collins, 30, is caught turning her back on her co-host amid reports that the network’s golden boy went ‘ballistic’ on her for apparently interrupting him in December.
It comes as a CNN insider said foxnews that Lemon is ‘having a hard time sharing the spotlight’ since losing his solo hosting gig for his 10 p.m.
The 56-year-old looked uncomfortable on Monday’s broadcast when he interviewed philanthropist and actor Kal Penn to discuss climate change.
Collins, right, and Lemon, center, had only one icy interaction during the show in which Lemon asked Collins if he recycled
They were joined by their third co-star Poppy Harlow.
During the interaction, Lemon appears to almost interrupt Collins, which has been a source of controversy for the co-hosts.
He points to his co-host and He asks: ‘Do you recycle? Or do you separate (garbage), should I say?’
He barely looks at his co-host as he quickly answers “yes, we recycle” before turning his attention back to his guest.
It’s the only interaction the couple had on the hour-long show.
For much of the episode, the three hosts were separated into their own individual segments.
The dispute between the two stars arose after Lemon is said to have berated Collins in front of the television crew for appearing to interrupt him on December 8.
Sources previously described Lemon as “difficult” to work with and had been given notes to talk less during episodes to give their co-hosts a chance to shine.
CNN chief Chris Licht told him to take a day to “freshen up.”
Lemon is said to have made Collins run off the set in tears after he berated her for interrupting him.
Collins and Lemon have starred on the show together since it began three months ago.
But the incident was featured in a company newsletter, prompting Lemon to “explode” with staff, according to online radar.
The dispute arose last week and since then Lemon enjoys a vacation in Beverly Hills with his partner Tim Malone.
The couple flew from New York to Los Angeles for the Grammys and seemed to be basking in the sunshine in the Golden State, ignoring the drama at home.
This Morning has been considered a pet project of Chris Licht since he became head of CNN in May 2022.
However, it had a disappointing debut and averaged only 454,000 total viewers in its first month of November.
In December, its viewers fell to 389,000 before plummeting again in January to 373,000.
A source told Fox News that Licht knows the show is “not in the right place.”
“He thinks he needs work, the show needs to improve,” a CNN source said. Fox News Digital.
Poppy Harlow (center) also stars with the couple on CNN’s morning show.
While it’s unclear if Collins intentionally interrupted Lemon, a source previously referred to him as “bossy” and “difficult to work with.”
The source added that Lemon in particular was struggling with the show.
“Don is having a hard time sharing a show,” they said.
“He’s having a hard time sharing the spotlight.”
Lemon hosted CNN’s slow 10 p.m. ET slot for years, but his viewership had steadily declined.
He was then yanked out of the top slot by Licht in September and he asked to appear alongside Collins and Harlow for a revamped morning show.
It was meant to replace the Jeff Zucker era show ‘New Day’.
Eric Hall had served as the show’s executive producer when it launched, but was removed from the role last month and reassigned to prime time.
Collins and Lemon, along with Harlow, used to hit red carpets and events as a unit.
But now, they arrive apart and seem to want to stay away from each other.
“At this point, Kaitlan wants to be on set with Don as little as possible,” a source said. The charge. ‘It’s messy.’
To Collins’ advantage, CEO Licht wants the morning show hosts to be more on the field than on the set.
Collins, who is also a White House correspondent for CNN, spent a lot of time in DC recently.
CNN previously issued a statement saying that reports of Lemon’s outburst are exaggerated, but other outlets have confirmed that the events being described are largely accurate.
“Don, Kaitlan and Poppy were friends before they co-hosted and remain friends today,” a statement read.
Dailymail.com has contacted CNN for further comment.