(SNews) – Leftist host Don Lemon was absent today from “CNN This Morning” after reports emerged Thursday that revealed he suffered an onset meltdown and “screamed” at his co-host.
As Slay News reported, Lemon apparently snapped and screamed at Kaitlan Collins, accusing his co-host of “interrupting” him.
The incident reportedly left the crew “rattled” and Lemon was ordered to leave the set and told to go and “cool off.”
The network claims his absence was unrelated to the explosive story, however.
“Don is on assignment in Los Angeles,” Collins said to open the show.
According to Fox News: “During CNN’s breaking news of Brittney Griner’s release from Russia on Dec. 8, there were multiple on-air instances where Collins attempted to interject while Lemon was speaking.
“At one point, Lemon wagged his finger above the desk and told her ‘stand by one second.’”
While off-air, however, 56-year-old Lemon got “nasty” with 30-year-old Collins, scolding her for “interrupting” him, which left the female co-host “visibly upset,” a source who witnessed the exchange told Fox News Digital.
Word of the incident reached CNN boss Chris Licht, who urged Lemon to “take a beat,” the source said.
CNN says Lemon is in Los Angeles doing “Grammy stuff” but the timing is making people wonder how long Lemon has left at CNN.
Media experts claimed demoting Lemon from primetime was an attempt to set him up to fail in the mornings so they could fire him with no pushback.
As I’ve said before. Most in CNN mgmt. knew this combination would fail and Don’s ego couldn’t handle going from his own show to sharing. They will fire him based on his behavior and ratings. Stay tuned.
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) February 2, 2023
The New York Post is reporting that the damage from Lemon’s meltdown has not been repaired.
“At this point, Kaitlan wants to be on set with Don as little as possible,” a source told the Post. “It’s messy.”
“Don screamed at Kaitlan, who was visibly upset and ran out of the studio,” a source told the Post about the meltdown.
Lemon who is rumored to be on thin ice at CNN after being demoted from his primetime show was reportedly told by CNN CEO Chris Licht “to take the next day off to cool off.”
Last month, Eric Hall, executive producer of “CNN This Morning,” was removed from his post amid the ratings slump and moved to a new role at the 11 p.m. hour of “CNN Tonight.”
The ratings have been a disaster for the new show, falling every month.
When Don Lemon has friends at a site, you get this line: "Multiple sources at CNN familiar with the dynamic at the show told Mediaite that Lemon remains one of the most liked and professional staffers at the network, while Collins is still working to adjust to her new position."
— Jon Nicosia (@NewsPolitics) February 3, 2023
slaynews.com/news/don-lemon-is-out-on-assignment-after-he-threw-temper-tantrum-and-snapped-at-co-host-kaitlan-collins/