Tensions between fired CNN host Don Lemon and network executive Chris Licht date back at least to last fall, when a dress dispute broke out during a rehearsal, according to a new report.
In early November, during a final rehearsal for the launch of CNN This Morning, Lemon stunned producers by returning to the set after a break in a white fur-collared jacket over a turtleneck. The Atlantic Ocean reported Friday.
“What the hell is he wearing?” Licht blurted out in the control room, according to a firsthand account by Atlantic staff writer Tim Alberta, who was there working on a comprehensive profile of Licht.
A junior producer hesitantly conveyed Licht’s concern through Lemon’s earpiece and drew a “miffed” look from the CNN host as he said, “Don, uhh, we’re not too crazy about the jacket here.”
Lemon was fired from CNN in April after a 17-year stint there, in a move widely seen as part of Licht’s campaign to break the network’s liberal image and reinvent it as a down-the-line middle, facts-first news organization.
A new report details behind-the-scenes tensions between Don Lemon (center) and CNN boss Chris Licht during a rehearsal for CNN This Morning last fall
Licht, 51, took over as chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide in February 2022, following the resignation of his predecessor Jeff Zucker
A Lemon representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com Friday afternoon.
Alberta’s first-hand account details a number of incidents of friction between Licht and Lemon during rehearsal four days before the November 8 opening of the CNN morning show starring Lemon, Kaitlan Collins, and Poppy Harlow.
After Lemon took off the offending jacket during another intermission, the host returned for another segment viewing Licht skeptically.
The segment questioned why the rapper Kanye West had only faced angry backlashes and broken sponsorship ties after his anti-Semitic tirades last fall, and not similar anger over his previous offensive statements about slavery.
“Do you think when I’m on my way to work, at 7:40 in the morning, I’ll have time to take this in?” Light asked a producer in the control room.
Lemon launched the segment by waving the opening line, prompting Licht to remark, “read the f***ing prompter.”
As Lemon delivered a monologue next to an image of a tortured slave, Licht couldn’t contain his disapproval, saying, “Way too long—and it’s goddamn morning.” This is morning television.’
At another point in rehearsal, Licht reportedly mused in frustration at Lemon’s tendency to have an opinion on every segment.
“I’m going to tell Don, the biggest mistake is to comment after every story for the comment after every story,” Licht said in the control room.
“Don’t tell me, ‘Oh, that’s terrible.’ We know it’s terrible. If you have a specific insight into something, if you can add something, tell us. But don’t comment on every damn story,” he added.
After rehearsal, Licht cornered Lemon at the anchor desk and gave his feedback, saying he wanted less commentary and kept things on the light side for the morning TV audience.
Lemon looked hesitant and replied, “I don’t want to be preachy in the morning, but I do want to hold people accountable.”
Lemon is seen with former co-host Poppy Harlow. He reportedly annoyed Licht by wearing a fur-collared coat over a turtleneck during a rehearsal
Licht, 51, took over as chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide in February 2022, following the resignation of his predecessor Jeff Zucker over a secret romance with his top lieutenant.
A former executive producer of MSNBC’s Morning Joe and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Licht was directed by David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, brought in for the top job at CNN.
At Zaslav’s behest, Licht’s mission was to steer CNN toward more objective reporting and try to win over more conservative-leaning voters.
But the hallmark of that campaign, last month’s CNN interview with Donald Trump at town hall, has drawn scathing reactions from some of the network’s own journalists.
They criticized the format, in which Trump attacked interviewer Collins as an “annoying person” and repeated falsehoods about the election to an audience of cheering fans.
Veteran correspondent Christiane Amanpour publicly slammed city hall in comments against graduating students at Columbia University’s graduate school of journalism.
Lemon has not announced any plans for his next move following his resignation from CNN.