Over his comments that she was past her prime, Nikki Haley, a Republican running for president fired back at the CNN anchor.
After the former South Carolina governor announced that she was running for president on Tuesday, Don Lemon, a demoted CNN host, made the comments and criticized the advanced age of the other candidates and ended up insulting women in general.
On “CNN This Morning,” he said to the other co-hosts, “This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable. I think it’s the wrong road to go down.”
Lemon, who is 56 years old himself said, “She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry, when a woman is in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”
Now, presidential candidate Haley, who is 51 years old, fired back at Lemon with a jab, she tweeted saying, “To be clear, I am NOT calling for competency tests for Sexist middle-aged CNN anchors; only for people who make our laws and are 75+.”
To be clear, I am NOT calling for competency tests for Sexist middle-aged CNN anchors; only for people who make our laws and are 75+. https://t.co/wvUNCcNdVt
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 16, 2023
In a statement on social media, Lemon apologized for the comments. He wrote on Twitter saying:
“The reference I made to a woman’s ‘prime’ this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and loved ones have pointed out, and I regret it.”
He added, “A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.”
The reference I made to a woman’s “prime” this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and loved ones have pointed out, and I regret it. A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 16, 2023
In its brief time on broadcast, “CNN This Morning” featuring Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins has received some of the lowest ratings for CNN. With his previous comments opposing pay for the U.S. Women’s soccer team equal to that of the more popular men’s soccer team, Lemon reportedly outraged Harlow and Collins.
Lemon said to an objection from Harlow, “We live in a capitalist society, and if people can make money off whatever it is, they are going to exploit it.”
“And there is a reason, and I’m sure it’s part of what you are saying and it’s part of what you’re saying, and these are conversations that we need to have, but I just think we are lying to ourselves if we believe that someone cannot sit here and speak the truth to what we’re talking about,” he added.
While former President Donald Trump, who announced his candidacy in November, is 76 years old, President Joe Biden, who is anticipated to compete for reelection in 2024, is 80 years old.
Watch the video below for more details:
Sources: TheBlaze, FoxNews, NYPost
