According to two sources with knowledge of the situation, Lemon, 56, accused Collins, 30, of "interrupting" him during the show’s Thursday, Dec. 8 broadcast and screaming at her in front of staffers.
On the following evening, three hosts planned to meet for drinks and then go to the White House Christmas celebration for journalists, as per a source.
However, the rendezvous prior to the occasion did not take place as the day had been emotionally taxing, and they came to the get-together independently, according to an individual acquainted with the matter. After the party, Lemon had a late-night dinner with his agent, Jay Sures, according to insiders.
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The incident reportedly made its way up to CNN CEO Chris Licht, who was said to be appalled by Lemon’s behavior, according to a source. Lemon has not publicly commented on the incident, while Collins also has not commented on the situation.
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Trouble at "CNN This Morning" had been brewing since its November debut, and the Dec. 8th incident was just the culmination. A week prior, the show had seen an uncomfortable exchange between Lemon, Collins, and Harlow when Lemon argued the US men's soccer team should receive higher paychecks than their female counterparts despite their inability to perform at the World Cup.
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Privately, a person close to Lemon revealed to The New York Post that Lemon was also unhappy with Collins' association with the right-leaning website The Daily Caller prior to her work with CNN and the Trump White House.
This is not the first time that tensions between Lemon and Collins have been reported. In December 2020, The Gateway Pundit reported that Lemon "snapped" at Collins in front of the CNN staffers after she asked a question that he did not like.
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The report also claimed that Lemon has a "toxic attitude" and is known for his "arrogant behavior." This has caused tensions to grow between him and his co-hosts, with some of them reportedly considering quitting the show.
This latest incident has sparked debate among political commentators, with some arguing that Lemon's behavior is unacceptable, while others are downplaying the incident and claiming that it is part of the "normal" tensions that come with being on a live news show.
Despite the differing opinions, the incident has highlighted the need for a better working environment on the set of "CNN This Morning."
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