'I Feel Vindicated': Don Lemon Opens Up About Chris Licht's CNN Exit

LOADING ERROR LOADING The former anchor, who was relieved of his duties in April following 17 years at the network, appeared on New York Magazine’s “Pivot” podcast Friday to discuss his own abrupt exit and Licht’s subsequent departure, as well as changes at the network during the executive’s tenure. Licht and other CNN officials had “wanted to be centrist” and shift strategy, Lemon said, adding that he believed the network didn’t want the anchor to be a part of it. “What do you think people got wrong about you leaving?” podcast co-host Kara Swisher asked Lemon, before referencing Licht’s exit. pic.twitter.com/USmvKHjsIT — Mike Sington August 18, 2023 Lemon himself was fired following his sexist “prime” comments about presidential candidate Nikki Haley, along with a heated exchange involving another GOP hopeful, Vivek Ramaswamy. Lemon also remarked that there wasn’t “a better person alive who could run CNN” than Jeff Zucker, suggesting that the network’s former president might have handled the Haley controversy differently.