White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reportedly “refused” to be interviewed by Don Lemon during her appearance on CNN This Morning this week.
Jean-Pierre was a guest on the program on Thursday, however, she apparently made it clear to the network that her appearance was on the condition that she wasn’t interviewed by the star anchor.
“The White House asked for her not to be interviewed by Don,” a source with knowledge of the incident told the New York Post.
A second source close to CNN told the Post that Jean-Pierre “refused” to go on if Lemon was asking the questions.
She was instead interviewed by the show’s co-host, Poppy Harlow.
Harlow was tasked to do the interview because the show’s staff has to “produce around” Lemon, who has received criticism for several on-air gaffes, the person said.
“He’s just a constant f**king distraction.”
According to the source, Jean-Pierre’s reps didn’t explain the reason behind her demand, however, insiders theorized that it was due to Lemon’s on-air mistakes.
Others speculated that might be the result of tense on-air exchanges in the past where Lemon pressed Jean-Pierre over President Joe Biden’s mental fitness.
“We’re not going to detail our conversations with any media outlets, but as always the anchor is the network’s call and not ours,” a rep for Jean-Pierre told the Post.
However, the White House later denied that Jean-Pierre didn’t want to deal with Lemon.
“Karine never said this,” a rep told the outlet.
According to CNN, the decision to have Harlow conduct the interview was made independently by the network.
The U.S. Sun has reached out to Lemon’s reps for comment.
DON IT AGAIN
Lemon joined CNN in 2006 as a correspondent and found success as the host of several programs.
However, the three-time Emmy Award winner landed in hot water after several text messages allegedly exposed “diva-like behavior.”
ABC correspondent Kyra Phillips, who appeared with Lemon on CNN’s Live From program back in 2008, claimed that she received two threatening messages from an unknown number several years ago.
“Now you’ve crossed the line, and you’re going to pay for it,” read one of the texts, which scared Phillips so much that she immediately sought help from the network’s higher-ups.
Around the time that she received the messages, Phillips had come back from an assignment in Iraq – a high-profile gig that Lemon allegedly wanted.
Variety reported that Lemon allegedly vented his frustrations about Phillips receiving the assignment and even tore up pictures and notes on top of and inside her desk.
The texts were allegedly traced back to Lemon, leading to an HR investigation by CNN, however, the findings were never publicly disclosed.
A spokesperson for CNN said: “Don says the alleged incident never occurred and that he was never notified of any investigation.
“CNN cannot corroborate the alleged events from 15 years ago.”
A spokesperson for Don Lemon said of the Variety story: “The story, which is riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete evidence, is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip.
“It’s amazing and disappointing that Variety would be so reckless.”
A CNN spokesperson added: “The Variety story provides no actual proof, and instead relies on anonymous sources and unsubstantiated claims from 10 to 15 years ago.
“CNN is unable to corroborate the alleged accounts.”
‘PAST HER PRIME’
Lemon saw backlash earlier this year following a February 16 episode of CNN This Morning in which he discussed the ages of politicians with Harlow and Collins.
“This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable,” Lemon said, referring to comments Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, 51, made about politicians over the age of 75 – suggesting they should be forced to take mental competency tests.
Lemon said it’s the “wrong road to go down.”
“She says…politicians are not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime. Sorry. A woman is considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s,” he said.
Harlow, 40, asked Lemon to clarify what he was trying to say, to which he responded: “That’s not according to me… If you Google ‘When is a woman in her prime,’ it’ll say 20s, 30s and 40s. I don’t necessarily — I’m not saying I agree with that.”
The backlash was immediate and Lemon apologize on social media hours later, writing: “The reference I made to a woman’s ‘prime’ this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and loved ones have pointed out, and I regret it.
“A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.”
He took a brief hiatus and did not appear for three episodes.
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