Another co-stomach anchor’s has twisted over Don Lemon’s sour behaviour.
The Post has learned that an enraged Poppy Harlow left the “CNN This Morning” set on Thursday after a heated argument with host Don Lemon over his comment that GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley was “not in her prime.”
Sources with knowledge of the incident said that Harlow took a “well-timed” toilet break and that co-host Kaitlan Collins, who just had her own run-in with Lemon, followed her into the lavatory.
The insider claimed that Lemon, Collins, and Harlow’s heated relationship has “been smouldering for months.”
Chris Licht, the president of CNN, appears content to continue airing the problematic group.
The source claimed that Licht “isn’t doing anything about it.”
Thirty employees quizzed Licht about the network’s poor ratings during an unofficial meeting on Thursday called “Coffee with Chris.”
One reportedly inquired about Lemon’s remarks regarding Haley, 51, the source said.
The source quoted Licht as saying, “People say foolish things and that if it’s a tendency then there’s recourse.”
Requests for comment from CNN did not immediately receive a response. A comment from Lemon was not forthcoming.
Harlow remained silent. But, a close friend of the seasoned anchor said, “Poppy Harlow does use the restroom, including on Thursday mornings, as a woman in her prime.”
Requests for comment from Collins were not returned.
The 40-year-old Harlow returned to finish Thursday’s programme, but she had appeared surprised when Lemon launched into his rambling, illogical tirade over Haley’s request for mental competency testing for legislators over the age of 75.
“This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable,” the 56-year-old Lemon began. “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.”
Lemon said, “A woman is thought to be in her prime in [her] 20s, 30s, and maybe 40s,” which confused Harlow and Collins.
The failing primetime presenter was promptly called out by Harlow: “What are you talking about, wait… What is prime for?
Lemon made a hasty attempt to rescue face by insisting he wasn’t expressing his personal ideas.
“That’s not according to me,” he said. “It’s like, prime. If you look it up. If you Google when is a woman in her prime, it’ll say 20s, 30s and 40s.”
He continued: “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, you know, Google.”
“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,” Lemon tweeted. “A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.”
“This ongoing situation is frustrating,” a source with knowledge said, referring to Lemon’s attitude on set. “His comments were misogynistic and sexist.”
