CNN’s Don Lemon is receiving back-up from a famed basketball player.
After the host faced criticism for comments he made about women, Lemon apologized on Twitter, writing, “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,” he added.
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 a tweet on Thursday, National Basketball Association star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wrote, “Don – we know your heart was in the right place. I think you were referencing women being in their prime during their ‘reproductive years.'”
“Women are always in their ‘prime’ because in my opinion, they get stronger, more courageous and more beautiful as they get older,” he added.
Don – we know your heart was in the right place.
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) February 16, 2023
I think you were referencing women being in their prime during their “reproductive years”.
Women are always in their “prime” because in my opinion, they get stronger, more courageous and more beautiful as they get older.
Lemon suggested on “CNN This Morning” Thursday that Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley’s mention of politicians being out of their prime is “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 considered to be in her prime [is] in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,” he continued.
Co-host Poppy Harlow interjected, “What are you talking about?”
“It depends. It’s just like prime. If you look it up. If you Google when is a woman in her prime, it’ll say 20s, 30s, and 40s,” Lemon said.
Harlow joked, “Forties! Oh my god, I have another decade.”
Don Lemon: "Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry, when a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, and 30s, and maybe 40s…"
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 16, 2023
Poppy Harlow: "Are you talking about prime for like child bearing?"
"Don’t shoot the messenger! I’m just saying what the facts are! Google it!" pic.twitter.com/n1HmtkWTpl
She asked her co-host if he was talking about childbearing or “prime for being president.”
“Don’t shoot the messenger. I’m just saying what the facts are. Google it. Everybody at home, when is a woman in her prime? It says 20s, 30s, and 40s,” he said. “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 Google or whatever it is.”
CNN CEO Chris Licht reportedly told staff during an editorial call on Friday he was “disappointed” by Lemon’s comments.
“His remarks were upsetting, unacceptable and unfair to his co-hosts, and ultimately a huge distraction to the great work of this organization,” he said in a recording obtained by The New York Times.