Don Lemon — who made headlines last week when he made comments about when women are supposedly in their “prime” and claimed that former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is not in her prime — has agreed to take part in “formal training,” CNN Worldwide chairman and CEO Chris Licht noted in a Monday night email to employees, the outlet reported.
“I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation,” Licht noted in a memo, according to CNN. “He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously.”
Licht also noted that Lemon will return to the air on Wednesday.
“It is important to me that CNN balances accountability with … fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes,” Licht conveyed. “To that end, Don will return to CNN This Morning on Wednesday.”
Haley, who announced a presidential bid last week, has called for “mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old.” She is 51 years old.
Lemon said last week that he is “uncomfortable” with the focus on age and claimed that Haley is not in her prime. Lemon suggested that Googling when women are in their prime would yield results indicating that women are in their prime during their 20s, 30s, and 40s — he added that he was not saying that he agreed with that notion.
The television personality later issued a tweet addressing his comments.
“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,” Lemon tweeted.
CNN reported that Lemon apologized during a Friday editorial meeting. “I’m sorry that I said it,” he said, according to the outlet. “And I certainly see why people found it completely misguided.”
“When I make a mistake, I own it,” he reportedly said. “And I own this one as well.”
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!