CNN host Don Lemon has hit back at claims that he was “demoted” after he was moved to the morning slot and his primetime show as axed.
During “Don Lemon Tonight” on Thursday, the host said he wanted to shut down further speculation that his move to daytime as a co-host on CNN’s morning show was somehow not his choice.
“I was presented with an opportunity that I can’t pass up at this network,” Lemon told his audience. “And we have a new boss [Chris Licht] who is a morning show impresario, and he wants a morning show that will kick off the editorial direction of the network every single day, and I am honored that he would ask me to do it.”
CNN’s @DonLemon on being demoted from primetime to the AM: “I was not demoted” pic.twitter.com/WgatfCzPLT
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) September 16, 2022
“And for all of those who are out there saying, oh, he moved me, and without my — he asked me and I said yes,” he added. “I could have said no. This is my show. I have a contract for this show. I decided that I would take him up on that and take this journey with him.”
“This is not someone moving me,” the anchor continued. “And by the way, this is not someone saying, ‘You must move to the Right, Don Lemon. You must not be so — give so much of your perspective.’ None of that has happened. All of that is fodder for Twitter, which is not real. So stop it. I was not demoted, none of that. This is an opportunity. This is a promotion.”
The CNN anchor, whose primetime ratings have been struggling, will co-host the morning show alongside CNN reporters Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow, who Lemon said he’s been friends with for a long time.
The network recently announced several other changes, including that media reporter and host Brian Stelter was leaving the company and his media show “Reliable Sources” would come to an end.
Related: ‘They Suck At Their Job’: Joe Rogan Says After Stelter Canned, ‘They’re All On The Chopping Block’