CNN’s Don Lemon threatened a former co-anchor through an anonymous number in 2008, according to a Wednesday report from Variety.
Lemon made waves in February when he issued an apology after suggesting Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is past her “prime.”
“Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime,” Lemon said. “Sorry, when a woman is considered to be in her prime [is] in [her] 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.” Co-host Poppy Harlow pushed back against the statement, and Lemon was noticeably absent from the show in the following days. Lemon allegedly had to receive “formal training” over his comments.
But his allegedly misogynistic behavior goes further back, according to Variety.
In 2008, Lemon allegedly sent his then-co-anchor Kyra Phillips a text after he reportedly became jealous of her assignment to Iraq. Lemon first took out his purported ire by ripping up pictures and notes on and inside of Phillips’ desk, two sources who worked at CNN at the time told Variety.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 15: Don Lemon attends the Michael Kors Collection Fall/Winter 2023 Runway Show on February 15, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Michael Kors)
Lemon reportedly escalated things when Phillips returned from her assignment, sending her a text from an unknown number warning, “Now you’ve crossed the line, and you’re going to pay for it,” Variety reported, citing the two sources. (RELATED: Don Lemon’s Fate Reflects ‘Unsentimental Math Of Identity Politics,’ Tucker Carlson Says)
Phillips reportedly went to CNN executives immediately, and they eventually traced the alleged messages back to Lemon. Human resources launched an investigation, and Lemon was removed from his weekday show and assigned to a weekend slot, according to Variety.
“Don says the alleged incident never occurred and that he was never notified of any investigation. CNN cannot corroborate the alleged events from 15 years ago,” a CNN spokesperson told Variety.