Don Lemon Paid $24.5 Million in Separation From CNN: Report

Don Lemon and CNN reportedly reached a deal following his ouster last year.

The former CNN anchor and the news network have reached a separation agreement that would pay Lemon approximately $24.5 million, reports TheWrap. The total amount is allegedly the amount of money that Lemon (57) should have received if his final contract expires in 3 and a half years.

Representatives for Lemon had no comment when contacted by PEOPLE on Monday.

After 17 years at CNN, the longtime anchor announced his departure from the network in an X (formerly known as Twitter) post in April 2023. “This morning my agent informed me that CNN has fired me. I’m stunned,” Lemon wrote.

Shortly after Lemon’s announcement, CNN’s PR team made the announcement counter statementaccusing Lemon of misrepresenting what happened.

“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is incorrect,” CNN Communications tweeted. “He was offered the opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”

Don Lemon attends the 13th Annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the American Museum of Natural History on December 8, 2019 in New York City. ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Don Lemon speaks for first time since firing CNN: ‘I have a responsibility to tell the truth’

The journalist’s departure from the network followed the exit from the network CNN this morning. In February 2023, Lemon received backlash for his comments that Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was “past her prime”.

He made his remarks about the politician’s age during a segment on the show with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.

After Haley’s comments, Lemon publicly apologized, “agreed to participate in formal training” and returned to the air less than a week later.

Two months later, Lemon conducted an interview with Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, which was said to have “infuriated several CNN executives” and contributed to the channel’s decision to let him go.

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A timeline of CNN host Don Lemon’s controversies

In July 2023, Lemon broke his silence in an interview with ABC24’s Rudy Williams.

“I have a responsibility not only as a journalist, but as an American, to tell the truth,” Lemon said. “And adhere to the promise of the Constitution, because the Constitution says a more perfect union. It’s not a perfect community.”

“I’m not a perfect person. Nobody is,” Lemon added. “In order to fulfill the promise of the Constitution, we must stand up for what is right. We must stand up for the truth.”

Don Lemon attends the 2023 Center Dinner at Cipriani Wall Street on April 13, 2023 in New York City. Cindy Ord/Getty

Additionally, shortly after Lemon was fired, co-host Collins, 31, took over former host Chris Cuomo’s 9 p.m. slot. Phil Mattingly then replaced the two CNN this morning co-hosted and worked with Harlow, 41. Mattingly and Harlow said goodbye to the series after that wrapped earlier this month.

Most recently, Lemon announced last month that he was launching a news show of the same name, The Don Lemon Showwhich will first be broadcast on the X social network.

The Don Lemon Show airs on March 11.

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Source: HIS Education