“The View” co-host Sunny Hostin is defending former CNN journalist Don Lemon after his ouster from the network.
On Tuesday, Hostin addressed Lemon’s departure from CNN, which came after his controversial time as a co-host of the network’s new morning show.
“I will say that I don’t believe, in my experience with him, that he is a misogynist. I think he loves women,” she said, adding, “He loves his mother, he loved his sister, he loves me, he loves Joy.”
She went on to say she is “stunned” by Lemon’s firing.
“And I hate that people are comparing Tucker’s firing with Don’s firing… That’s a false equivalency,” she added.
Finally, Hostin said, “Just to put a button on it. Don, yes, said some things that were sexist and, I think, ageist. He apologized for them and received formal training.”
Watch the video below:
Sunny Hostin on Don Lemon: "I don't believe, in my experience with him, that he is a misogynist. I think he loves women. He loves his mother, he loved his sister, he loves me, he loves Joy." pic.twitter.com/20b2SEbEEA
— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) April 25, 2023
In a statement posted on Twitter on Monday, Lemon said, “I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN.”
“I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network,” it added.
The communications team for CNN tweeted, “Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
The New York Times noted Lemon was “one of CNN’s most recognizable stars” and had “a reputation as a fiery political commentator during his eight years as a prime-time anchor.”
“But inside the network, he began to lose support after he made remarks in February about women and aging that were widely perceived to be sexist,” it added.
In February, Lemon claimed Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley “isn’t in her prime.”
“Sorry, when a woman is considered to be in her prime [is] in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,” he insisted before telling viewers to confirm his statement by conducting a Google search.
The Times also noted a heated exchange between Lemon and Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy about Black history earlier this month “left several CNN leaders exasperated.”
The revelation of Lemon’s ouster came shortly after the announcement Fox News had agreed to part ways with top-rated host Tucker Carlson.