Don Lemon took a break in California with his partner after it was revealed he “lost his mind” and yelled at his colleagues in a second incident.
The CNN This Morning host allegedly made Kaitlan Collins run off the set in tears on December 8 after he berated her in front of the television crew and her other co-host.
Boss Chris Licht told him to take a day to “cool off” but instead blew up on employees after a company newsletter featured a story about his altercation with the White House correspondent.
Lemon, 56, reportedly got “ballistic” on employees who highlighted the dispute with Collins, according to RadarOnline, with the host claiming she “interrupted” him during a December broadcast.
She is now enjoying a vacation in Beverly Hills with her partner Tim Moloney, who posted a photo of the couple, ignoring claims that Lemon went on a rampage.
The CNN This Morning host allegedly made Kaitlan Collins run off the set in tears on December 8 after he berated her in front of the television crew and her other co-host.
She is now enjoying a vacation in Beverly Hills with her partner Tim Moloney, who posted a photo of the couple, ignoring claims that Lemon went on a rampage.
The couple fled New York for Los Angeles and seemed to be basking in the sunshine in the Golden State and ignoring the drama unfolding at home.
Real estate agent Moloney posted the series of snapshots, which included a photo of the popular “Welcome Friends” script on the pillars near the monument’s entrance, the hotel parking lot and palm trees.
Collins, 30, CNN’s youngest chief White House correspondent, reportedly wants to be on set with the anchor “as little as possible” after the incident.
The argument took place off-camera on December 8, leaving Collins “visibly upset” and other staff members “shocked” by his outburst.
Both Collins and Lemon are represented by Agent Jay Sures, with fellow presenter Poppy Harlow witnessing the heated initial exchange.
Collins and Lemon have starred on the show together since it began three months ago.
The couple, along with Harlow, used to hit red carpets and events as a unit, but now they seem to arrive separately and seem to want to stay away from each other.
While it’s unclear if Collins intentionally interrupted Lemon, a source referred to him as “bossy” and “difficult to work with.”
The argument took place off-camera on December 8, leaving Collins “visibly upset” and other staff members “shocked” by his outburst.
The couple fled New York for Los Angeles and seemed to be basking in the sunshine in the Golden State and ignoring the drama unfolding at home.
The source added that he was given notes to talk less during the show and share the stage with Harlow and Collins.
Lemon used to have his own show, Don Lemon Tonight, before Licht canceled it and created the new morning show.
CNN chief Licht has previously promised to give the company a makeover since taking over last year, but it appears to have had little impact.
The company has not addressed the allegations, but Licht approved shock layoffs last year, leaving many employees in shock.
There have been a number of changes at the station, with CNN This Morning executive producer Eric Hall being fired and moving to a new role at CNN tonight.
Former CBS producer Chris Russell was tapped to replace Hall, and the staff shakeup affected Lemon as well.
He moved Lemon from his primetime show to the morning show as a host in a reorganization of announcer talent.
His 10pm show, Don Lemon Tonight, was canceled amid lackluster ratings, with Lemon initially saying the move was not a “downgrade.”
Collins and Lemon have starred on the show together since it began three months ago.
Lemon used to have his own show Don Lemon Tonight, before Licht canceled it and created the new morning show.
But sources told The New York Post that he was “not happy” to share the spotlight with Collins and Harlow.
They added that he was also not impressed with the fact that Collins had worked for the Daily Caller prior to his work covering the Trump White House for CNN.
Lemon has been “given notes” to talk less and let his co-hosts take the spotlight as well.
A source added: ‘Don is a bossy guy and hard to work with, even he would admit it. He was a solo act before. He doesn’t want to be in Destiny’s Child.
‘Don has an intractable ego. I understand that he wants the show to be about him. I don’t know how you fix that. It is a very difficult situation.
It comes after podcast host Megyn Kelly predicted that the incident with Collins wasn’t the first time Lemon had lost his temper with a co-worker, adding that she suspected it wouldn’t be the last either.
He added that Lemon “better watch out”, adding that he would have fired him if he did that to him, also commenting that the show is “on its last legs before it’s even started”.
The source added that he was given notes to talk less during the show and to share the stage with Harlow and Collins.
Collins, 30, CNN’s youngest chief White House correspondent, reportedly wants to be on set with the anchor “as little as possible” after the incident. Pictured: Lemon with co-stars Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins at an NBA game
A CNN representative declined to comment on the incident, but said: “In just three months, these anchors have created a compelling morning show that delivers news and drives conversation.”
Since the incident, Lemon has been deployed to Memphis and on other assignments, while Collins worked remotely from Washington, DC on several occasions in January.
A CNN representative said Collins has been on assignment as she also serves as the show’s lead correspondent, adding: “The intention was always for the anchors to come out from behind the news desk, and they’re doing an amazing job at bring the viewers in.” The most important news of the day.’
Lemon’s December outburst isn’t the first misstep she’s made as she’s adjusted to sharing the spotlight with her new colleagues.
A week earlier, he was shot down by Collins and Harlow after being accused of explaining why the US men’s soccer team should charge more, despite their lack of success.
She insisted she was joking when she said that men were “more interesting to watch”, with the interaction making viewing uncomfortable.
CNN This Morning suffered a ratings bomb and, early last month, experienced its lowest-watched week since its launch, averaging just over 330,000 viewers.
