He’s the most picked up name in the news — and it seems even White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wants nothing to do with CNN’s Don Lemon.
During an appearance on “CNN This Morning” on Thursday, KJP made it clear to network producers that she would rather be interviewed by Lemon’s co-host Poppy Harlow.
“The White House has asked her not to be interviewed by Don,” a source told the New York Post.
While the reasoning behind her request isn’t clear, insiders believe it could be due to Lemon’s recent on-air blunders or previous tense on-air exchanges in which Lemon challenged Biden’s press secretary about his mental and physical condition.
The White House has denied making such a request.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre requested to be interviewed this week not by Don Lemon on ‘CNN This Morning’, but by Poppy Harlow
Lemon was recently in the spotlight for a series of allegedly misogynistic remarks and workplace bullying at CNN
“We are not going to give details of our conversations with media outlets, but as always, the anchor is the network’s call and not ours,” explained a spokesperson for Jean-Pierre.
Similarly, CNN declined to give a specific reason for not letting Lemon ask the questions.
“The decision to have Poppy do the interview was made independently by CNN,” the network said.
Lemon has recently been in the spotlight for a series of allegedly misogynistic episodes and workplace harassment.
Despite such allegations, CNN said the decision to let Harlow conduct the interview was made independently.
During an appearance on “CNN This Morning” on Thursday, KJP made it clear to network producers that she would rather be interviewed by Lemon’s co-host Poppy Harlow, pictured
In February, Lemon went on the air and ranted about 51-year-old former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley who was “not in her prime” when she declared her decision to run for the GOP nomination.
It saw Harlow walk off set in disgust and later resulted in widespread outrage from CNN staffers — as well as Jean-Pierre, who, when asked to comment on Lemon’s comments, carefully noted that it was CNN’s duty to deal with them. to go. “That’s clearly something that needs to be addressed,” she said at the time.
It led to Lemon being suspended from the main morning show for three days before offering a mea culpa and a promise to undergo “formal training” following his sexist comments.
Weeks before, he also sparked outrage after asking a female co-host who stumbled upon her words if she had “mommy brain.”
And in December 2022, he was criticized by his female co-hosts after saying that men’s football is “more interesting to watch” than women’s football.
The men’s team earns more money. If they make more money, they should get more money,” Lemon said.
“The men’s team makes more money because people are more interested in the men.”
Lemon and Jean-Pierre got into a fight in June 2022 last year when he grilled her about President Biden’s mental fitness.
Lemon and Jean-Pierre got into a fight earlier last year when he grilled her about President Biden’s mental fitness in June 2022.
“Does the president have the stamina, do you think physically and mentally, to continue beyond 2024?” Lemon asked the press secretary.
“That’s not a question we should be asking,” she replied in a tantalizing exchange.
“You know, I can’t even keep up with him,” she said. “Just look at the work he does. And see how he performs for the American public.”
Despite Lemon qualifying his question as simply a journalistic duty to inquire about the US president’s “health, history, both physical and mental,” Jean-Pierre was surprised.
“I am not as sharp as I used to be. And the job of President of the United States is a very, very hard job,” Lemon said, explaining himself. “I’m sure he can handle the job, but it’s my job as a journalist to ask.”
Lemon’s antics at CNN have raised the eyebrows of others working at the network.
In December, Lemon yelled at co-host Kaitlan Collins off-camera to interrupt during a broadcast. The host’s tirade reportedly led to Collins running off the set in tears
In December, Lemon yelled at co-host Kaitlan Collins off-camera to interrupt during a broadcast.
The veteran presenter’s diatribe reportedly led to Collins running off the set in tears, as stunned crew members and colleagues watched.
CNN boss Chris Licht, who promised to give CNN a makeover since taking over the outlet last year and then announced shocking layoffs, was supposedly stunned by the news and told Lemon to take his time the next day to “finish to cool’.
A source told The Post that Lemon’s tirade “visibly upset” Collins.
And shortly after their fiery clash, Collins dropped her “super agent” she shared with Lemon amid the ongoing CNN drama.
According to a memo sent to staffers, Licht said, “I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation.
“He has agreed to participate in formal training, but also to continue to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously.
“It’s important to me that CNN balances responsibility with fostering a culture where people can acknowledge their mistakes, learn from them, and grow from them.”
Lemon returned to the show, but failed to acknowledge the backlash he faced live on air – instead, he apologized online shortly before the show aired.
Licht previously said the comments were “disturbing, unacceptable and unfair to his co-hosts, and ultimately a huge distraction to the great work this organization is doing” during an editorial call.
Such concerns were further highlighted by a recent Variety exposé revealing Lemon’s history of allegedly misogynistic behavior and bullying.
The allegations this time date back to 2008. Sources told Variety that 57-year-old Lemon was rude to Nancy Grace and Soledad O’Brien on air at an editorial meeting attended by about 30 staffers.
A senior executive told Variety at the time, “As soon as you could make a line, Don would bend it.”