Don Lemon returned to CNN after facing controversy with sexist remarks made last week.
CNN sent out a memo to all employees on Monday night, stating that Lemon will undergo “formal training” as a mandatory part of his return to an anchor of CNN This Morning.
CNN CEO Chris Licht wrote in an email “I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation. He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continue to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously.”
Lemon came under fire on Thursday when discussing South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) recently announced presidential candidacy and statements that she made calling for mental competency tests for presidential candidates over 75.
With his co-anchors Poppy Harlow and Katilan Collins, Lemon discussed the remarks and said that Haley, 51 “isn’t in her prime” herself.
Lemon doubled down on his argument saying, “If you Google ‘when is a woman in her prime,’ it’ll say 20s, 30s and 40s.”
The comment quickly kicked up a storm on social media, and Lemon was not seen on the show for the first two days of the week.
He is set to return to the show on Wednesday.
Lemon first apologized on Twitter on Thursday after the episode writing, “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. A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.”
Lemon also apologized to CNN staffers, saying, “I’m sorry that I said it. And I certainly see why people found it completely misguided. When I make a mistake, I own it. And I own this one as well,” the network said.
“I believe that women of any age… can do whatever they set their minds to,” Lemon stressed. “The people I am closest to in this organization are women… The people I seek counsel from most in this organization are women.”
