CNN has seen yet another shake-up in its leadership as the new chairman and CEO, Chris Licht, continues to make high-level changes at the network. These changes have seen several top hosts fired or moved to different programs, but controversial host Jim Acosta has benefited from an expanded role on the weekends.
However, the network has also seen a slew of bad news in recent months. CNN anchor Ana Cabrera, longtime journalist Barbara Starr, and correspondent and anchor Suzanne Malveaux all left the network after many years of service. Chris Wallace, who joined CNN after departing from Fox News, has also struggled to find success, with his show “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace” scoring its lowest viewership in January.
CNN’s top anchor, Jake Tapper, also faced controversy when his longtime producer was fired after a sex scandal was discovered. Meanwhile, a former CNN producer, John Griffin, pleaded guilty to luring a minor to his home for sex.
One of the biggest controversies involved host Don Lemon, who narrowly avoided being fired after making what many considered to be sexist remarks about GOP presidential contender Nikki Haley. Lemon criticized Haley for endorsing “mandatory mental competency tests” for politicians over 75 years old, suggesting that she was no longer in her “prime.”
In response to the backlash, CNN CEO Chris Licht announced that Lemon would undergo “formal training” for sexism before returning to the airwaves. Lemon apologized on Twitter, saying that the reference he made to a woman’s “prime” was inartful and irrelevant. However, it remains to be seen whether Lemon’s training course will address his berating of co-host Kaitlan Collins earlier in the year.
According to reports, Lemon approached Collins after the show’s December 8 broadcast and accused her of interrupting him on air, causing her to leave the set “furious.” News of the incident made its way to CNN CEO Chris Licht, who was said to have been appalled by Lemon’s behavior. A producer reportedly told Lemon to take the next day off to “cool off.”
Despite the network’s struggles, Licht remains optimistic about the changes, stating that they are necessary to ensure CNN remains a relevant source of news for the future. Licht has made it clear that he is not afraid to make tough decisions to move the network forward.
Sources: ConservativeBrief, Outkick
Leave a Comment