'Nikki Haley isn't in her prime': Poppy Harlow storms off CNN set after Don Lemon's sexist rant on GOP presidential candidate
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: The co-anchors of Don Lemon were sickened by his misogynistic rant about Nikki Haley on Thursday, February 16, which increased the pressure on CNN president Chris Licht to fire the obnoxious host. Angry over Lemon's comment that the GOP presidential contender was "not in her prime," Poppy Harlow stormed off the 'CNN This Morning' set, according to sources with knowledge of the incident.
New York Post reports that co-host Kaitlan Collins, who has also clashed with Lemon in the past, accompanied Harlow as she left the set for a "well-timed" toilet break following the heated discussion. He yelled at her on-air in December for interrupting him. According to a source, the issues between the three have "been smoldering for months" at the network, but new CEO Chris Licht has not stepped in.
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Why did Poppy Harlow leave?
The anchors were debating Nikki Haley's stated belief that politicians over the age of 75 should undergo "mental competency tests." Lemon disagreed, effectively branding the newly announced Republican presidential candidate a hypocrite because she is "not in her prime," as reported by MNS.
“This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable,” Lemon, 56, said of Haley, 51. “I think it’s the wrong road to go down. 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 her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”
Kaitlan Collins, 30, and Harlow, 40, both questioned his intended meaning. When Harlow questioned whether he understood those ages to be the prime "child-bearing" years, he was met with contempt and shock. Lemon later changed his position and said, without citing anyone, "don't shoot the messenger." He corrected himself by saying that, according to Google, women are regarded to be "in their prime" in their 20s, 30s, and 40s.
“I’m just saying Nikki Haley should be careful about saying that politicians are not in their prime and they need to be in their prime when they serve,” he said on-air. “Because she wouldn’t be in her prime according to, you know, Google.”
Don Lemon says Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime as a politician because she’s not in her 20’s, 30’s or 40’s. Holy shit. She’s only 51! Biden’s 80! This may be the dumbest thing ever said on CNN. And I love that he cited Google as his source: pic.twitter.com/l1CzTYlkjX
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) February 16, 2023
One of the sources then said that Harlow took a "well-timed" bathroom break and was accompanied into the toilet by Collins. Additionally, a CNN insider claimed that the most recent prominent incident might eventually force Licht to fire Lemon from his position hosting the morning show. “Chris isn’t happy and he has spoken to Don a couple times today,” the network source said. “Don knows it can’t happen again.”
Thirty employees quizzed Licht about the network's poor ratings during an unofficial meeting on Thursday, February 16 called 'Coffee with Chris'. One reportedly inquired about Lemon's remarks regarding Haley, the source said. The source quoted Licht as saying, "People say stupid things and that if it's a trend then there's recourse."
What happened next?
The 40-year-old Harlow returned to finish Thursday's program, but she had appeared surprised when Lemon launched into his rambling, illogical tirade over Haley's request for mental competency testing for legislators over the age of 75. “This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable,” the 56-year-old Lemon began. “I think it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime.”
Lemon said, "A woman is considered to be in their prime in [their] 20s, 30s, and maybe 40s," which confused Harlow and Collins. The failing primetime presenter was promptly called out by Harlow, "What are you talking about, wait...Prime for what?”
Lemon made a hasty attempt to rescue face by insisting he wasn't expressing his personal ideas. “That’s not according to me,” he said. “It’s like, prime. If you look it up. If you Google when is a woman in her prime, it’ll say 20s, 30s and 40s.” He added, “I’m just saying Nikki Haley should be careful about saying that politicians are not in their prime and they need to be in their prime when they serve. Because she wouldn’t be in her prime according to, you know, Google.”
Lemon apologized in public after facing intense internal and online backlash. “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,” Lemon tweeted. “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
"This ongoing situation is frustrating," a knowledgeable source said, referring to Lemon's demeanor on set. "His comments were sexist and misogynistic." Harlow remained silent. However, a source close to the veteran anchor joked, "As a woman in her prime, Poppy Harlow does use the bathroom, including on Thursday mornings."