“CNN This Morning” co-host Don Lemon brought about some on-air rigidity and triggered an uproar on social media Thursday after claiming GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley was not “in her prime” — and shouldn’t touch upon the age of different politicians.
Lemon, 56, was responding to Haley, 51, calling for psychological well being competency exams for politicians over the age of 75 in her presidential marketing campaign kickoff speech Wednesday.
“This entire speak about age makes me uncomfortable,” Lemon started. “I believe it’s the incorrect highway to go down. She says individuals, you understand, politicians are all of a sudden not of their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime.”
To the bewilderment of co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlin Collins, Lemon then stated: “A lady is taken into account to be of their prime in [their] 20s and 30s and possibly 40s.”
Harlow, 40, instantly known as the previous prime-time host out: “What are you speaking about, wait … Prime for what?”
Lemon rapidly tried to avoid wasting himself by claiming he wasn’t stating his private beliefs.
“That’s not in keeping with me,” he stated. “It’s like, prime. When you look it up. When you Google when is a lady in her prime, it’ll say 20s, 30s and 40s.”
He continued: “I’m simply saying Nikki Haley ought to be cautious about saying that politicians aren’t of their prime they usually must be in prime once they serve. As a result of she wouldn’t be in her prime in keeping with, you understand, Google.”
Lemon then advised that Haley should watch out with such proposals as they may doubtlessly flip away older voters.
The trade drew criticism from either side of the aisle, with many condemning Lemon as each sexist and politically biased.
“This is likely one of the most sexist issues a ‘information host’ has stated in latest reminiscence, however nothing will occur to Don Lemon, after all,” tweeted conservative commentator Ben Shapiro.
Slapstick comedian Pete Dominick known as for Lemon, who often puzzles Twitter with seemingly sexist and out-of-touch commentary, to be sidelined
“Extra basic and egregious sexism from #DonLemon It was only some weeks in the past the place he stated @secupp had ‘mommy mind’ Immediately he stated #nikkihaley was ”previous her prime’ as a lady. Poppi [sic] tries to dig him out of his ditch and NOPE! Bench that dude IMMEDIATELY,” Dominick wrote.
In one other tweet, Dominick lists different notable girls in politics and the ages they have been once they ran for workplace.
“Simply enthusiastic about the reporting course of that went into this,” tweeted former journalist Lachlan Markay. “Don Lemon heard Haley speaking about politicians being previous their prime, so he googled ‘when are girls of their prime’ and determined that was an authoritative metric of presidential health. Outstanding.”
Atlanta-based radio host Erick Erickson bashed Lemon, writing, “If somebody on @foxandfriends stated this, Don Lemon could be dropping his s— this morning on CNN for the misogyny of it.”
“If a Fox Information host stated this, Don Lemon would name for them to be fired,” agreed Post columnist Karol Markowicz.
Author Kimberly Ross stated she didn’t keep in mind Lemon making comparable commentary when Hillary Clinton ran for president on the age of 69.
Different Twitter customers identified that Lemon shouldn’t be commenting on Haley not being in her “prime” as a result of he’s 5 years older than her.
“She’s 5 years youthful than you. Lie down for a nap and take into consideration what you’ve performed,” one Twitter person wrote.
One other Twitter person quipped: “Nikki Haley is 51. Diva Don Lemon at 56 has the EQ of a mattress bug.”
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