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[Tribetime]

This message was self-deleted by its author (Tribetime) on Thu Apr 27, 2023, 09:24 AM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[Ocelot II]

1. Maybe not.

https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/cnn-don-lemon-misogyny-history-nikki-haley-1235574286/

[Shanti Shanti Shanti]

28. Yeah, fuck him, he's a blatant woman hater, shitcan him for good

[Hortensis]

60. The facts don't support that. He's worked well enough with women for years,

and some who know them question the interpretations of even the much milder charges being made at this time, that they're exaggerated to move him out of CNN.

However, he has not tempered occasionally abrasive behaviors to an era when extreme intolerance and taking offense at anything seen as disrespectful is being encouraged to be seen as not just be justified but principled.

Intolerance is both a very good thing and a very bad one, depending, but extremism in anything tends to be damaging. Extreme intolerance, unwillingness to allow others some wiggle room to be themselves, is now to to a point that internal strife and attacks on coworkers has severely handicapped the work of LW activist organizations especially. Many drawn to jobs in those organizations tend to extreme reactions, and when when not doing well in their jobs assume the blowback is workplace abuse. Leaders in this field cite this has having become a severe problem.

Part of the dysfunctional extremism from both sides that's threatening far more than just the work of LW activist organizations and talk show anchors.

Fwiw, I agree with the OP that Lemon'd be a fine addition to MSNBC.

(Btw, "misandry" is the word for "dislike of, contempt for, or ingrained prejudice against men." As opposed to the misogyny some wrongly imagine in him.)

[yardwork]

35. Wow. Worth clicking the link to read!

So his comment about Nikki Haley was not a one-off.

How can a person with that level of misogynistic bias be trusted to report the news?

[Celerity]

61. a couple of cuts from the link

Back in 2008, Don Lemon was co-anchoring CNN’s “Live From” weekday show with Kyra Phillips, a gig that he landed after he arrived at the network two years prior from local news in Chicago. For months, tensions between the pair kept mounting. On more than one occasion, a “Live From” producer and a newsroom supervisor had to pull Lemon off the air during a commercial break because of the anchor’s provocative antics, not unlike his recent declaration that the 51-year-old Nikki Haley isn’t a viable presidential candidate because she “isn’t in her prime.” Amid the charged atmosphere, sources say Lemon disrespected colleague Nancy Grace on the air and Soledad O’Brien during an editorial meeting attended by roughly 30 staffers.

But his antipathy toward Phillips was particularly concerning and had many members of the close-knit Atlanta news team on edge. While Phillips was on assignment in Iraq — a high-profile gig that Lemon coveted — he vented his disappointment at being passed over by tearing up pictures and notes on top of and inside Phillips’ desk in the news pod they shared, according to two sources who worked there at the time. When she returned from Iraq, things only got weirder. One night while dining with members of the news team, she received the first of two threatening text messages from an unknown number on her flip phone that warned, “Now you’ve crossed the line, and you’re going to pay for it.” Phillips was visibly rattled and quickly enlisted CNN’s higher ups to identify the sender.

Remarkably, the texts were traced back to Lemon, according to those same sources. A human resources investigation was launched, and while the findings were never disclosed to the growing pool of staffers who were aware of the situation, Lemon was abruptly pulled from his co-anchor duties with Phillips and moved to the weekends. It was a demotion by any objective measure and understood to be some kind of disciplinary action. It appears to be the last time he was paired with a female anchor until his most recent assignment on “CNN This Morning With Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.”

snip

If Lemon felt threatened by Grace, the biggest star at CNN/Headline News at the time, she wasn’t the only one. He was upset that O’Brien landed the gig of hosting CNN’s high-profile “Black in America” docuseries, which launched in 2008. During an editorial call attended by roughly 30 staffers, he suggested O’Brien isn’t Black, according to two witnesses, who found the characterization wildly offensive. “Don always wanted to be front and center on anything high profile, especially anything involving race,” says a colleague. O’Brien, who wasn’t present, tells Variety, “Don has long had a habit of saying idiotic and inaccurate things, so it sounds pretty on brand for him.”

snip

[inthewind21]

76. Huh, you left out a part

Remarkably, the texts were traced back to Lemon, according to those same sources. A human resources investigation was launched, and while the findings were never disclosed to the growing pool of staffers who were aware of the situation, Lemon was abruptly pulled from his co-anchor duties with Phillips and moved to the weekends. It was a demotion by any objective measure and understood to be some kind of disciplinary action. It appears to be the last time he was paired with a female anchor until his most recent assignment on “CNN This Morning With Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.”

Phillips, who joined ABC as a Washington-based correspondent in 2018, declined comment. A spokesperson for CNN said, “Don says the alleged incident never occurred and that he was never notified of any investigation. CNN cannot corroborate the alleged events from 15 years ago.”

[Celerity]

84. I was trying to show multiple incidents and not just limit it to one. (4 paragraph rule)

As for that first one that I posted, something obviously happened (I will grant that there maybe were other issues with him as well that also possibly led to his demotion):

A human resources investigation was launched, and while the findings were never disclosed to the growing pool of staffers who were aware of the situation, Lemon was abruptly pulled from his co-anchor duties with Phillips and moved to the weekends. It was a demotion by any objective measure and understood to be some kind of disciplinary action. It appears to be the last time he was paired with a female anchor until his most recent assignment on “CNN This Morning With Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.”

The bloke has had multiple issues with misogynistic behaviour over the years, he just exhibited that again recently, on nation cable. I am not of a mind to draw a line in the sand and mount a full-throated defence of him and condemn CNN's actions in terms of giving him the sack.

[unc70]

2. Really do not like Lemon

Never have. Not sure why.

[True Dough]

7. Ever tried lime?

Like a key lime pie? Delicious! I highly recommend it!

[Xavier Breath]

13. This hits really close to home with me

because I practically inhale Marie Callendar key lime pies.

Now, back to the Don Lemon thread, already in progress.

[RegulatedCapitalistD]

15. Having lived in Key West a couple years

I can assure you...those aren't Key Lime pies.

[True Dough]

20. Maybe not

but it's the key to Xavier Breath's heart!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

40. Lucky you! Love the place.

[RegulatedCapitalistD]

42. It really was awesome. I have lived in a lot of places in the U.S.

The Conch Republic was my favorite. I will miss it always....

[Laura PourMeADrink]

43. Me too! Where else did u love?

Always wanted to live in NYC for a while.

I lived in FQ for a couple years and loved it. Odd mix of happiness and deep sadness and soul. Always think of KW as NOLA with a beach

[RegulatedCapitalistD]

46. I grew up a Military. Brat...and before my father retired, we lived on Governors Island

Last edited Wed Apr 26, 2023, 09:14 PM - Edit history (1)

Across from the Statue of Liberty and had to take 2 ferry's back and forth to get to high school in Staten Island.

So we lived all up and down the East Coast

Then I married a man who was a Lineman for a living. and we lived in a travel trailer on the road for 16 yrs....I was "tiny housing" it before it became fashionable. Sadly we ultimately divorced and I haven't been doing the traveling I was used to. I still do not feel I have a real home anywhere....the only House I returned to as a kid was under the Walt Whitman Bridge into Philly in Gloucester New Jersey (I was born at the Philly Naval Hospital and almost born on that bridge) But that row house has now been torn down and a Parking Lot is in its place...

I also lived 90 miles outside of Chicago in a Travel Trailer for 5 yrs...in Marseilles Illinois while my Ex built powerlines around Chicago. I have had my fill of snow I can tell you that after that experience

I also got to live outside of Dallas for a while in Irving....I really liked that too...

[BlackSkimmer]

51. I lived there for over 25 years.

Hope you tried Blue Heaven!

Loved every minute of it!

[RegulatedCapitalistD]

53. Sadly I was last there before 1992 when that was built

I was there when they were building the Powerlines along the 7 Mile Bridge...We lived on Big Pine Key and used to go eat at the Pelican Perch often though.

I went to Fantasy Fest both years though and would rather attend that again versus Mardi Gras!

[BlackSkimmer]

62. Wow, the good old days. We were there during part of the same time it seems.

I actually lived on Big Pine in the very late 80s, I think it was.

Not remembering Pelican Perch for some reason, but we loved the No Name Pub. There was that place on Summerland that everyone loved, but I never cared for it. Can't remember the name, but that was back in those days.

Remember the mosquito planes? Ah, good times.

[RegulatedCapitalistD]

83. I was mistaken....I confused the name for a Campground we once lived in

It was the No Name Pub!!!!

I actually learned to drive on Big Pine Key. My ex was working on the Barge so I would sneak the car...and drive around Big Pine because there was only one traffic light. I drove to the Grocery store and Bank then parked that big Plymouth Fury in the same spot he left it.... no one knew I was doing that. So on my 25th Birthday I was feeling lucky and called a friend to drive me to Key West to take the test...to her shock! I had never even parallel parked or even driven in reverse in that tank....but the inspector taught me while I took the test and he passed me to my amazement.

When my ex got home....I told him I got myself the best birthday present ever ....and pulled out my drivers license from the back pocket of my jeans...and I watched all the blood drain from his face in surprise!

After we moved I took the test all over again so that I could keep that license with my 25th Birthday and Key West on it....and I still have it in my fireproof box to remind myself what I am capable of to everyone's surprise.

https://nonamepub.com/

[tavernier]

87. Having lived in the Keys 40 years

I can’t stand Key Lime pie anymore. But I can eat all the cracked conch you can provide… lots of lemon, please!

[Hobo]

16. Now that was funny NT

Hobo

[WhiteTara]

12. he's a misogynist and you are a sensitive human

with discernment?

[Laura PourMeADrink]

26. That is not true!!!! He's 100% Dem

[yardwork]

36. Read the article linked above. Eye opening.

[inthewind21]

68. I did

read the article. And it's full of "some people say 15 years ago" and "CNN cannot confirm" or "CNN says yeah, not so much (basically)" So there's that. It's nothing more than some people from 15 years ago claim this and claim that but we don't really know if any of it happened or not. So there's that.

Maybe he's an ass. Would not surprise me. But so is Keith Olberman who is revered as the oracle of all things DEM here regularly. And so is Brian Williams who got canned for his "Stretching of the truth". So are a LOT of media personalities.

To be honest, I don't know much about him, I rarely watch CNN. But an article from Variety making all kinds of claims about 15 years ago from "a source tells us" while at the same time stating CNN cannot confirm or CNN say it didn't happen. Well, not enough there for me to jump on the "He's a misogynist ass bandwagon. And definitely not "eye opening"

[NotVeryImportant]

69. But something is different about Don than the others you just mentioned

Care to guess what it may be?

Hint: It's not his sexual preference.

[inthewind21]

77. Is there?

Difference is, you hate Don and love Keith.

[Hortensis]

71. Read this one, too, about the damage extreme intolerance is doing

to the work of LW progressive organizations, and of course to the entire left. Of COURSE, this tendency has been weaponized against us, and I believe it is being used now to separate very popular anchor Don Lemon from his LW audience.

A lesson in how CNN can get rid of an anchor who insists on calling out the MAGAs, while keeping LW viewers.

Meltdowns Have Brought Progressive Advocacy Groups to a Standstill at a Critical Moment in World History

https://theintercept.com/2022/06/13/progressive-organizing-infighting-callout-culture/

There are other articles on this subject.

[pnwmom]

73. The Intercept is not what I'd view as a reliable source. nt

[Hortensis]

75. Good point. Me neither, but this is a good article and

has search terms to help locate more that address the same very serious problem. I've read others before, and everyone here should before leaping to help the right take down a big voice for our side in these dangerous times.

We're supposed to learn from our mistakes, and this is hardly the first time, or tenth, for this one.

[inthewind21]

78. Maybe the source

Isn't the greatest. But what the article is saying has been quite visible. Right here on this very site. Things such as this snip.

"But, the aide pointed out, there is legislative potential now. “There are wins to be had between now and the next couple months that could change the country forever, and folks are focused on stuff that has no theory of change for even getting to the House floor for a vote.”

[Hortensis]

82. Umhm. Most of the article is about

problems arising from interpersonal reactions in progressive organizations.

A huge one is when zealous and angry employees decide that fighting their own inflated or imaginary offenses against the organization itself is taking as important a stand as the entire progressive action organization’s are, even if it seriously impairs an organization fighting to protect abortion and other women’s rights.

That clip describes how this same attitude extends to the greater political landscape, including Congress and influence on voting behavior.

A huge problem, and it’s almost entirely a problem for the liberal progressive left, the farther left the bigger the problem. So, of course, it’s been Weaponized to take out our warriors.

[Ocelot II]

44. Not all Democrats and liberals are paragons of virtue.

Lemon has been infamous for years for his misogynistic and sexist behavior. He doesn't deserve any more of a break for that than anybody else.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

47. Agree. Nor is it good ( to me) that it seems

we are moving way too far on this cancelling out of anyone who is not or has never been perfect.

[Ocelot II]

49. He wasn't "canceled" for not being perfect; he was sacked for being

a misogynistic, sexist diva for such a long time that even CNN's management couldn't take any more of it. He thinks 51 is too old for a woman to run for president:

“This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable,” Lemon, 56, said of Haley, 51. “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 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”

His intended meaning was questioned by Harlow, 40, and fellow co-host Kaitlan Collins, 30. Harlow looked on in disdain and disbelief as she asked if he meant those ages to be the prime “child-bearing” years. Lemon backtracked, saying not to “shoot the messenger,” though he was quoting no one. To make up for his snafu, he claimed women are considered to be “in their prime” in their 20s, 30s, and 40s according to Google.

“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,” he said on-air. “Because she wouldn’t be in her prime according to, you know, Google.”

[Laura PourMeADrink]

54. Exactly. He was referring to what Haley said! Thanks

for posting that. Not articulately for sure, but totally got what he was trying to say.

Unrelated to that - No one knows what it's like to be in someone else's shoes. Totally guessing - Unceremoniously yanked from a night time show I thought he was great at. Perhaps he thought the move related to racial discrimination against him? We don't know.

[Ocelot II]

56. Haley had suggested that *Biden* was too old. Lemon's response

was that Haley shouldn't be talking about a presidential candidate being too old because she, as a 51-year-old woman, was "past her prime." If that isn't sexist I don't know what is. Haley never said women were past their prime if over 40; that was Lemon's opinion, and it was disgusting. But it was only one of many incidents where he was rude or insulting to women, especially those he worked with. I don't know why you are trying to make excuses for this guy by twisting that discussion; what he said was just indefensible.

I didn't either like or dislike him as a news anchor. Sometimes he was pretty good on the air; sometimes he said some pretty dumb things - like the time when he speculated that the disappearance of the Malaysian Airlines plane could have been because of a black hole. There are plenty of good, competent news presenters in the world, and a network doesn't need to keep one around that embarrasses them and subjects them to liability.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

58. Ya.. with reference to prime being of child- bearing age.

Hey, was just reading more about it all and saw stuff on Kaitlin Collins. She had to apologize for anti-gay slurs at Alabama in 2011. Sure that musta irked the hell out of Lemon.

All I know about her is that trump didn't pull her WH press pass like he did with all the experienced journalists who threatened him. Lol.

[Ocelot II]

59. Being past child bearing age has nothing to do with being too old

to be president, and you know it and so does Don Lemon.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

72. Good point. It doesn't. Doesn't change my mind tho. It

Still way overblown. IMHO

[inthewind21]

79. It's

EXACTLY what happened with Me Too. I was so excited about the Me Too movement. But at the same time very worried that instead of taking the win and the new found public awareness an build on it, some would swing waaaaaaaay to far and the movement would die with a whimper. Turns out, my worries were legit.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

80. Hate that for you. Sometimes I think it takes a couple

generations to make long lasting change? I agree with you. Strikes me that the people who need to change don't and defer to mockery. And the ones who were fine already are going WAY too far.

And then there's guns. Grrr. Guess we'll have to have big control of all branches to improve that horror.

[WhiteTara]

45. he may be dem, but he also has that

male superiority complex that says he can do what he wants to any woman in his path. I hope they remove him to the dust bin of history. I'm tired of men who act like animals and then get rewards.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

48. I'll put you in the don't like him category :). Did u watch

him at night for years? Just curious. Thought everyone hated CNN anyway.

[WhiteTara]

85. I didn't watch him for years. But I did see him

from time to time. But what does that have to do with sexual assault and harassment?

I don't hate CNN, I even tried to get a job with them many years ago.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

88. Hmm - because watching a person for years equates to being in a

better position to critique? Just a guess.

There is no sexual harassment. Have no idea where'd you get that. Now I see how things get WAY blown out of proportion.

[WhiteTara]

89. okay

[JenniferJuniper]

3. I don't,

he deserved the firing.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

27. Absolutely no, he did not.

[JenniferJuniper]

29. Tired of people who wouldn't tolerate racism,

homophobia, transphobia being totally fine with sexist pigs who demean and harass women.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

31. Watched him for years. He's a good person who got

railroaded out and got unfairly labeled a monster by cancel culture absolutists. IMHO

[JenniferJuniper]

32. Cancel culture? Seriously?

Have you read the VF article?

Besides he was boring as f**k.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

39. Yes. And one person's boring may just be interesting

to some one else.

[JenniferJuniper]

41. And some people are just fine with raging misogynists.

Bet he turns up on a right wing cable channel eventually.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

50. Will never happen. Bookmark:)

[BlackSkimmer]

63. Like I said, I was a fan for quite some time. But I tired of his shtick.

And that was even before I knew he was so misogynistic. Unfortunately, that nailed it for me.

He is who he is.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

74. Yes read VF article. My perspective is that he's different

than most other people in TV. He sometimes speaks before he thinks. So refreshing compared to the canned company types. Liked how he asked the questions about what we all want to know instead of a corporate script. But to each his own.

I truly don't think he hates women like everyone is saying tho. More like a person who can't always handle seeing other people (generic) get assignments he wanted or thought he was more worthy of? Just a guess.

Jeez if you want to see true misogyny come to the red south. In business I am familiar with, women have almost zero real decision making roles. And socially, remember the first party I went to at someone's house... Men outside, women had to stay in kitchen. Weirdest thing I ever saw!

[BlackSkimmer]

34. I was a fan for a long time, but sadly learned about his misogyny.

Someone links the Variety article in this thread. Read it and see what you think.

Most of it I knew, but some I didn't. Very disappointing.

[FemDemERA]

70. Ditto

Thanks for saying what I was thinking.

[Sky Jewels]

4. I used to like him, but after finding out how sexist he is ... not so much anymore.

[tritsofme]

5. I doubt it, given his history of sexist and misogynistic outbursts.

[Drum]

6. Bookmarking

[Maru Kitteh]

8. I would love to see him back after some time off and self-examination

backed up by professional therapy to help him figure out why he thought it was okay to belittle his younger female colleague and say women not in their 20's and 30's are "past their prime."

[True Dough]

9. It's a much lesser issue

but the whole "Here's a drunk Don Lemon acting goofy on New Year's Eve" CNN extravaganza was pitiful television. They should have cut that silliness many years ago.

[YDogg]

10. Agreed

[WhiteTara]

11. honestly, I hope they don't.

I'm tired of bad men being rewarded. You might think sexual harassment and assault not as important as being good news presenter on air; but I'm sick of asshole men who get passes for treating women like so much sh*t on their shoes. Not just passes, but rewards and raises.

But hey, that's just me. I've lived a life of sexual harassment and I'm old and cranky.

[brooklynite]

14. Honestly, I've never understood being enamored of news personalities.

[yardwork]

37. Or politicians.

[Ocelot II]

57. Me either. I truly don't get the adoration of this guy in particular -

apart from his long history of bad off-stage behavior, he was only a fair-to-middling news presenter, sometimes downright dumb. The guy who thought the Malaysian Airlines airplane might have been sucked up by a black hole? He was supposedly a liberal so we have to love him? I don't love any of them; don't understand the panic if one of the favorites is off the air for a night or a week.

[Sneederbunk]

17. So glad Meadowlark did not live to see this.

[Xavier Breath]

21. Or Jack.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

18. Don Lemon's misogyny is legendary.

He's been at it for decades.

I am tired of misogynistic men and their snide on-air remarks about womens' age, looks, ambitions, style, hair, make-up and clothing choice. Men with woefully slender CVs criticizing women who are their peers or competitors, is century old BS. It needs to stop. Lemon stepped all over his dick with his remarks about Nikki Haley. I don't care for her or her politics, but his comment that she "isn't in her prime" when we have a government filled with white men over 70 is beneath comtempt.

Suck on this, Lemon.

[yardwork]

38. Agreed. Did you read the article linked above? Wow,

[madaboutharry]

19. He has a misogyny problem.

Don Lemon needs to take some time off and work at being a better person.

[Lancero]

22. He's a sexist pos, but I'm sure certain networks would love to have him to claim being balanced.

I can think of one such network with a opening...

[Raine]

23. Ugh NO, he should've been fired long ago

I hope he's off TV for good.

[niyad]

24. I suggest that you read the Vanity Fair article, dated April 5th, about him,

and then rethink your statement.

My pos computer won't let me link to the article, but you can find it easily enough. I had no idea what a misogynist and all-around ass he is.

[Fiendish Thingy]

25. God I hope not

Unless it’s to fill in for a vacancy created by firing Chuck Todd.

[617Blue]

30. Don't be surprised if he ends up on Fox.

His questionable behavior makes him a perfect fit.

[eShirl]

33. Not a chance, IMHO.

[pwb]

52. I never watched the guy.

He rubbed me the wrong way.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

55. At least your honest!!!

[Zorro]

64. Heard a rumor NewsNation is talking to both him and Carlson

[XanaDUer2]

65. Lemon asks why a Cosby assault victim

Why she didn't bite off his penis

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100217855564

[krawhitham]

66. please, NO

[NotVeryImportant]

67. msnbc would certainly be a better fit

and he would probably get good ratings there, including viewers leaving CNN to follow him there.

Not that I'd be watching, but still, not a bad idea OP.

Not bad at all.

[Vinca]

81. No, no, a thousand times no.

[FlyingPiggy]

86. No thanks. I'm not a fan.

[ZonkerHarris]

90. hard pass