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Don Lemon delayed a CNN commercial break Tuesday to awkwardly praise his co-anchor Kaitlan Collins for her interview with Republican Rep. James Comer.
Lemon was apparently so outraged by comments made by Comer, a Kentucky Republican who serves as the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, in his interview with Collins that he stopped the outro music signaling a break in the commercial.
He also lashed out at the New York Post, claiming it is not a “credible source,” after Comer praised the outlet for breaking the story about Hunter Biden’s laptop.
The awkward exchange came amid reports that Don Lemon fell out of favor with his co-hosts, even causing Collins to run off in tears.
Don Lemon awkwardly delayed a commercial break Tuesday to praise his co-host, Kaitlan Collins.
Kaitlan Collins (right) was interviewing Representative James Comer (left) for the CNN show
In the interview with Comer on CNN This Morning, Collins pressed the Republican about upcoming House investigations into Hunter Biden’s laptop and suggestions from Twitter archives that the FBI tried to suppress those stories.
Comer said he was grateful Twitter revealed how the FBI worked with social media companies to suppress stories involving Hunter Biden’s laptop, saying, “Thank God for Elon Musk.”
“We wouldn’t know the government was involved in censoring conservative speech if it weren’t for Elon Musk being transparent and not revealing the Twitter files,” he said before praising the New York Post for breaking the story.
The congressman called the newspaper a “credible outlet” and “the fourth largest newspaper in the United States.”
But when the interview wrapped up and Lemon was allowed to transition to a commercial break, he seemed taken aback by Comer’s comments while his co-host, Poppy Harlow, praised Collins for “real time fact checking.”
“That’s where we’re at, where the facts are a little flexible and you just throw things around, citing unbelievable sources like the New York Post as a credible source and saying the facts are, it’s just… I can.” I don’t think we’re here,’ Lemon said.
Harlow then looked directly into the camera, apparently surprised by Lemon’s comments, saying, “That’s why we had Kaitlin Collins on the hill do a real-time fact check.”
Still, Lemon continued his tirade even as the final music began to play, signaling a break in the commercial.
“Wait, please with the music,” he told the crew, who immediately turned off the sound.
He then went on to assert that there is no “shared reality” with people like Comer, saying, “Americans are going to have to suffer through all of this, from election deniers to people who don’t believe the facts.”
“We don’t have a shared reality, and now it’s center stage.”
Lemon was supposed to transition to a commercial break following Collins’ interview with manager James Comer.
The two discussed upcoming hearings on Hunter Biden’s laptop, when Comer praised the New York Post for breaking the story, much to Lemon’s chagrin.
At that point, Harlow tried to interrupt again, continuing to praise Collins for pointing out that special counsel for the investigations into Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump were appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland.
She called it “critically important” to check the facts in real time when the show eventually cut to a commercial.
When he returned, Lemon praised Collins’ interview skills, saying, “While I was watching that really good Kaitlan Collins interview with Comer, I had to come out and say something because she’s citing sources as credible that aren’t credible.”
“He’s talking about facts of something that’s a little bit flexible, and you might believe one thing or another, facts are facts.”
The Hunter Biden laptop story was heavily disputed by Biden supporters ahead of the 2020 presidential election, and even led to the New York Post being suspended from Twitter for a period.
But various outlets, including CNN, have since confirmed that the laptop is authentic.
The awkward interaction came amid reports that Lemon had a falling out with Collins.
CNN insiders say Lemon is having trouble sharing the spotlight with his two morning show co-hosts, noting that they used to arrive at events together but now come separately.
Lemon’s awkward attempt to praise his colleague on Tuesday came amid reports that he and his co-hosts were not getting along.
Sources have said the network’s golden boy went ‘ballistic’ at Collins in December for interrupting him, apparently berating his co-host in front of the television crew.
The incident later surfaced in a company newsletter, prompting Lemon to “explode” with staff, according to online radar.
CNN chief Chris Licht told him to take a day to “freshen up.”
When the two co-hosts finally met on Monday, their interactions were remarkably icy with each other, speaking only once during the hour-long show.
That interaction came when Lemon seemed to almost interrupt Collins again, pointing at her and asking if she recycles in a discussion about climate change.
Collins barely glances at his co-host as he quickly replies “yes, we recycle” before turning his attention back to his guest.
Lemon was reportedly told to take some time to “cool down” after berating Collins for interrupting him in a segment in December. He is pictured here last week.
A spokesperson for the network denies there is any animosity between the co-hosts, calling them “friends.”
A CNN source has since told him foxnews that Lemon is “having a hard time sharing the spotlight” since losing his solo hosting gig for his primetime show, saying, “Don is having a hard time sharing a show. 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 separately 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,” another 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.