NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 CNN anchor Don Lemon will return to work Wednesday and will receive 鈥渇ormal training鈥 in the aftermath of his on-air comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, network CEO Chris Licht said in an email to employees Monday night.
The memo, obtained by The Associated Press, did not specify the training. Licht added that it was important to him that the network 鈥渂alances accountability with 鈥 fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes.鈥
Lemon has not been on the air since Thursday, when he said the 51-year-old Haley was not 鈥渋n her prime鈥 during the broadcast of 鈥淐NN This Morning.鈥 Lemon and fellow hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins had been discussing Haley's suggestion that politicians over 75 should be subject to mandatory mental competency tests.
鈥淣ikki Haley isn鈥檛 in her prime, sorry,鈥 Lemon said, explaining why he was 鈥渦ncomfortable鈥 with the age discussion. He said a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s. Haley is 51.
He was challenged by Harlow, who tried to clarify what Lemon was referencing: 鈥淚 think we need to qualify. Are you talking about prime for childbearing or are you talking about prime for being president?鈥
鈥淒on鈥檛 shoot the messenger, I鈥檓 just saying what the facts are,鈥 Lemon responded. He brought up the subject again an hour later, and was rebutted by commentator Audie Cornish.
鈥淪he's in her prime for running for office,鈥 Cornish said of Haley. 鈥淧olitical prime is what we鈥檙e talking about.鈥
Lemon issued a statement that same day saying he regretted his 鈥渋nartful and irrelevant鈥 comments, which were widely condemned. Haley herself called the comments sexist and used the episode to fundraise.
According to The New York Times, Licht chastised Lemon during an editorial call Friday, saying his remarks were 鈥渦psetting, unacceptable and unfair鈥 and a 鈥渉uge distraction.鈥 Lemon appeared at the meeting and apologized to staffers, CNN reported.
鈥淚 sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation,鈥 Licht wrote in the Monday night memo. 鈥淗e has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously."
Harlow said at the top of Tuesday morning's show that Lemon would be back the next day.
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AP Media Writer David Bauder contributed to this report.
