Podcast host Megyn Kelly bashed CNN CEO Chris Licht for not acting more harshly after CNN host Don Lemon’s incendiary comments about women being “past their prime.”
Lemon precipitated outrage from both the political Left and Right after claiming that former Gov. Nikki Haley (R-SC), 51, was no longer “in her prime.” Haley, in an apparent shot at President Biden, had stated that many American politicians were not “in their prime” and suggested a cognitive test for political candidates who were over 75 years old.
“This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable. I think it’s 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 in their prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,” Lemon said in response.
During a recent show, Kelly discussed a report that said that Lemon would face “recourse” from Licht “if the same stupid things become a trend.” Lemon, who will return to CNN on Wednesday, was required to go through sensitivity training.
“I tweeted out, ‘If?’ I realize he only took over about a year ago but there’s a history here. Hello? Hello?” Kelly said, before referencing “Back to the Future,” quipping, “MacFly?”
“Here’s how I see this latest decision by Chris Licht. Here’s a question I have for him. Do women matter? Do we matter? Because it shouldn’t have to be that you were raped by a man or 21 women come forward alleging that they were sexually harassed by a man or they were inappropriately touched by a man for their offense to matter. Because we have seen person after person get fired because they caused offense, mere offense, when it comes to race, when it comes to sexual orientation, when it comes to gender identity,” she said.
“Does women’s offense matter? “ she pressed. “Does it matter? Because this guy managed to piss off half the country. And it’s not Left or Right, it’s male or female, and by the way, a lot of the men are with us. You don’t have to be a #MeToo supporter to be irritated and offended by what Don Lemon said. This one’s not breaking down along partisan lines”
“Does our offense matter to CNN or does someone have to grab a boob for us to count, Chris Licht?” she fired. “That’s my question to you.”
Then she referred to Lemon’s “formal training” after the incident. “Because Don Lemon’s ‘reeducation camp’ is a farce. It’s a lie and we know it. No one’s fooled by your stupid fig leaf,” she said.