Vera Wang, 73, DEFENDS her ‘good friend’ Don Lemon
Famed fashion designer Vera Wang has spoken out in support of her “good friend” Don Lemon after he was unceremoniously fired from CNN after 17 years following a slew of on-air and behind-the-scenes controversies.
But despite allegations of sexism and misogyny against the controversial presenter, 73-year-old Wang has come out to 57-year-old Lemon, insisting he is a “good journalist” who is having a particularly “difficult time”.
“I am very sad, he is a very good friend of mine,” Wang confided Monday night at the Champions in Life Anniversary Gala at New York’s Gotham Hall.
She continued, “I feel so bad because he’s a really good journalist and I think this is a tough time for Don right now.”
Wedding dress designer Vera Wang has come out to defend her boyfriend Don Lemon following his firing from CNN after working for the network for 17 years
Lemon, 57, was fired by CNN on Monday after being repeatedly accused of sexism and misogyny during his broadcast
Interestingly, one of the biggest scandals to devastate Lemon’s on-air career in recent times saw him slammed for sexism after claiming that Republican presidential nominee Nikki Haley, 51, is “past her prime.”
But while Wang is 22 years older than Haley, she didn’t hesitate to put herself in his corner, saying of his comments about the politician, “You know what, I didn’t hear that. i [have] just known him for a long time.’
Lemon’s shocking comment about Haley was made on an episode of CNN This Morning, the show he co-hosted with female co-anchors Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow.
At the time, the trio were discussing Haley’s own suggestion that politicians age 75 and older should undergo mental competency testing — with Lemon quick to rant the Republican for her stance, urging women her age to be careful when it comes to that kind of controversial pronunciations. opinions.
“A woman is in her prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe her 40s,” he told his stunned co-hosts, before doubling down and telling them to “Google it.”
“I don’t think so — if you look it up, if you google, “What’s a woman in her prime?” it will say 20s, 30s, 40s,’ he continued.
‘I’m not saying I agree. So I think she [Nikki Haley] have to be careful about saying that, you know, politicians are in their prime.’
Are you talking prime for having kids for example? Or are you talking prime because you’re president?’ Harlow asked.
Lemon waves goodbye Monday at the end of CNN This Morning — a moment that would prove to be his last gig as CNN anchor after 17 years with the network
“I feel so bad because he’s a really good journalist and I think this is a tough time for Don right now.”
“Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just stating the facts,” Lemon snorted.
“Google it. Everyone at home, when is a woman in the prime of her life? It says 20s, 30s and 40s.
“I’m just saying that Nikki Haley should be careful about saying that politics isn’t in her prime, and she should be in her prime when she’s serving. She wouldn’t be in her prime according to Google or whatever it is.’
Backlash against Lemon was swift — with Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh even appearing to take a swipe at the on-air anchor during her Best Actress acceptance speech at this year’s awards.
“This is proof that dreams, big dreams and dreams come true,” Yeoh said as she picked up her Oscar. “And ladies, don’t ever let anyone tell you that you’re ever past your peak. Never give up!’
Lemon’s comments about Haley may have reached the lofty heights of Oscars derision, but they were far from the only outrageous blunder to cast a shadow over his CNN career.
Don Lemon was fired by CNN on Monday. His combative April 19 interview with Republican presidential nominee Vivek Ramaswamy was said to have been a factor in his resignation
Don Lemon tweeted his outrage that he was fired from CNN Monday afternoon
CNN responded quickly, insisting that executives were making every effort to meet with Don’s management, but that he had chosen to announce the news on Twitter instead.
Last September, the anchor again sparked anger when he asked Republican panelist SE Cupp, 43, if she was suffering from “mommy brain” after she lost her train of thought.
In 2014, he also questioned a woman who claimed she was raped by Bill Cosby at the age of 19 as to why she hadn’t bitten him to defend herself from the alleged attack.
He then faced bitter backlash in 2019 when he compared Donald Trump to Adolf Hitler, before lashing out at his supporters two years later for being “on the side of the [Klu Klux] Klan’ and the ‘Nazis’.
“If you’re on that side, you have to think about which side you’re on,” he said, discussing the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol.
“I’m never on the Klan’s side. People of principle, conservative or liberal, never on the side of the Klan. People of principle, conservative or liberal, never on the side of the Nazis.
“People of principle who are conservative or liberal, never on the side that treats their compatriots as less, that says your compatriots shouldn’t exist… that sides with slavery.”