Don Lemon, the former CNN primetime host, is set to receive about $24.5 million in a separation deal. This amount matches what he would've earned if he stayed until his contract's end, about three-and-a-half years from his firing.
Lemon was let go in April, ending his short stint as a morning show co-host. The decision was made by then-CEO Chris Licht, who later left the company.
The firing occurred after Lemon made controversial remarks about Nikki Haley, stating she was past her prime because she was over 50. He had to apologize for these comments.
Lemon expressed shock at his firing, having been with CNN for 17 years. He found out through his agent, not from management directly.
"I am stunned after 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have the decency to tell me directly," he shared on social media.
Lemon felt blindsided, never anticipating his departure from CNN. He hinted at broader issues within the network as the cause.
He's now preparing to launch "The Don Lemon Show" on Elon Musk's X platform soon. This new venture marks his return to hosting after his controversial exit from CNN.