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Cable television network CNN has fired longtime host Don Lemon, the news anchor said in a post on Twitter on Monday, adding he was “stunned” by the step and that he was not directly informed of the termination by the network.

“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned,” Lemon said.

“After 17 years at CNN, I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network,” he added.

In a statement of its own, CNN said the network and Lemon had parted ways.

“Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years,” said CNN CEO Chris Licht. “We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors.”

Lemon is the most recent CNN personality to get fired as Licht has stated that he is trying to steer the company to be more neutral in order to gain back the trust of viewers.

Lemon had a tenuous relationship with CNN leadership over the past several months.

He was demoted from his prime-time show “Don Lemon Tonight” in October of 2022 where he was the singular host to co-hosting duties on “CNN This Morning.” Then in December of 2022, the New York Post reported of an incident in which Lemon lambasted his “CNN This Morning” co-host  Kaitlin Collins causing a rift on the set. In February of this year, Lemon was placed on leave after he caused a firestorm for stating that GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley was past her prime due to her age. This incident also reportedly didn’t sit well with his female co-hosts.

Neither CNN nor Lemon indicated if any of these instances were behind his firing.

Copyright 2023 Thomson/Reuters. Additions and edits for FISM News by Michael Cardinal.