Don Lemon, the former CNN star who was fired by Chris Licht after 17 years at the outlet, is enjoying his summer. He was spotted spending time on a boat in the Hamptons, despite the noxious Canadian smoke filling the air. Lemon posted pictures of himself boating out East on Instagram Stories from his vessel, saying, “Started sunny until the smoke creeped in.” Lemon, who has a home in tony Sag Harbor, told Page Six, “I’m going to enjoy my summer… spend it on the beach and have a great time.”
Lemon’s Future at CNN
Although rumors have been circulating that Lemon could be welcomed back to CNN now that Licht is out, a source told the Post there is no way he would return. The source said, “[I] don’t see any scenario” in which Lemon would accept another position as an on-air personality at the network. Licht had cast former nighttime anchor Lemon on his disastrous CNN morning show experiment, which also starred Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins. Lemon ended up being axed after his infamous on-the-air comment that presidential candidate Nikki Haley, 51, “isn’t in her prime.” Collins was then moved to primetime.
Now, sources tell Page Six that CNN’s chief White House correspondent Phil Mattingly, who has been filling in on the morning show, will officially take over as a host. However, representatives for CNN did not comment.
Licht left CNN on Wednesday morning after just over a year on the job, and his exit followed a scathing 15,000-word exposé by the Atlantic. The article had revealed a tense behind-the-scenes relationship between Licht, the former “Morning Joe” wunderkind, and the CNN veteran, Lemon. During rehearsals for the ill-fated CNN morning show, Licht reportedly blurted out, “What the f–k is he wearing?” in response to one of Lemon’s outfits. After Lemon flubbed a line in rehearsals, Licht reportedly hissed in a control room, “Read the f–king prompter.” The article stated that Licht had dwindling patience for Lemon’s outfits, ad-libbing, and opinions.
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