CNN's Don Lemon said in a Twitter post that he has been "terminated" by the cable news network after 17 years.

What You Need To Know

  • CNN and longtime anchor Don Lemon have parted ways, the network said Monday

  • Lemon claimed that the news came as a surprise to him and characterized it as a firing

  • CNN said in a statement that Lemon's description of events was "inaccurate" and that the host was "offered an opportunity to meet with management, but instead released a statement on Twitter

  • Lemon's announcement came minutes after news broke Monday that longtime Fox News host Tucker Carlson was leaving his network

CNN did not provide a public explanation for Lemon's departure. But on the “CNN This Morning” co-host's own Twitter account, Lemon contended the news came as a surprise to him and characterized it as a firing. He had appeared on his show Monday morning.

"I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned," Lemon tweeted early Monday afternoon. "After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indiciation that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network."

"It is clear that there are some larger issues at play," Lemon continued.

CNN said in a statement that Lemon's description of events was "inaccurate" and that the host was "offered an opportunity to meet with management, but instead released a statement on Twitter."

In a note to CNN employees, CEO Chris Licht said "Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors."

In mid-February, Lemon caused an uproar when, during a discussion on “CNN This Morning” with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins about the ages of politicians, he said that the 51-year-old Haley was not “in her prime.” A woman, he said, was considered in her prime “in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s.”

Harlow challenged Lemon, trying to clarify what he was referencing: “I think we need to qualify. Are you talking about prime for childbearing or are you talking about prime for being president?”

“Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are,” Lemon responded. He brought up the subject again an hour later, and was rebutted by commentator Audie Cornish.

Lemon issued a statement saying he regretted his “inartful and irrelevant” comments, which Haley herself called the comments sexist and used to fundraise. He was subsequently absent from the show for three days, returning the following week with a tweeted apology but no mention of the episode on air.

Licht told staffers in a memo at the time that Lemon would undergo “formal training,” but did not specify what that would entail. Licht added that it was important to him that the network “balances accountability with … fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes.”

Haley on Monday hailed Lemon's departure as "a great day for women everywhere."

Lemon made the announcement minutes after news broke Monday that longtime Fox News host Tucker Carlson was leaving his network.