CHAUDHRI: Don Lemon special treatment skewers CNN company culture

Toronto & GTA Columnists Canada

Revealed Apr 15, 2023 • Final up to date 14 minutes in the past • 2 minute learn

U.S. tv journalist Don Lemon arrives for the Recording Academy and Clive Davis pre-Grammy gala on the Beverly Hilton lodge in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Feb. 4, 2023. Picture by MICHAEL TRAN /AFP by way of Getty Pictures

When information broke of the investigation into Jian Ghomeshi, CBC’s darling marquis host in 2014, loyal watchers of the media outlet have been gobsmacked.

How may the CBC flip a blind eye to such misconduct?

And whereas the allegations swirling round Don Lemon don’t rise to the identical stage of seriousness or criminality, virtually a decade after Ghomeshi’s ouster, CNN appears to be taking a web page from the CBC playbook.

For the uninitiated, Don Lemon, star anchor of CNN, was taken off air in February following feedback that U.S. presidential candidate Nikki Haley “isn’t in her prime,” and doubled down when he expounded “A girl is taken into account to be in her prime in her 20s and 30s, and perhaps 40s.”

Regardless of his clearly discriminatory feedback, Lemon was permitted to return to his morning anchor spot (that he hosts with two girls anchors) just some days later with a promise to “do higher.”

However based on Selection journal, Lemon’s questionable conduct dates again 15 years when he was co-anchoring a weekday present with Kyra Phillips.

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In keeping with Selection, Lemon despatched Phillips disturbing textual content messages from an nameless cellphone after she landed a high-profile project in Iraq that Lemon was vying for. An inner Human Sources investigation allegedly traced the messages again to Lemon and included him texting Phillips: “Now you’ve crossed the road, and also you’re going to pay for it.”

Regardless of these deeply disturbing revelations — significantly that Lemon threatened Phillips utilizing a burner telephone, presumably to keep away from detection and exponentially enhance the worry related to the menace — Lemon was merely reassigned to host a weekend present.

Since 2008, Lemon has allegedly left a path of discriminatory incidents and feedback in his wake, together with just lately asking a number if she has “mommy mind” on air. The incidents are largely corroborated by former hosts, panelists and staff of the community. They’ve additionally been extensively reported on within the media.

So how do you clear up an issue like Don Lemon?

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When a community has regarded handed the transgressions of its marquis host for over a decade, discovering the appropriate second to exit him could really feel like a bridge too far.

However it’s maybe with out query that CNN has positioned its personal fame within the steadiness with viewers by taking lacklustre steps to rein Lemon in slightly than take away him completely.

It’s arduous to think about how different staff working with Lemon should view their very own futures. It’s extremely disheartening to work for any employer that may’t or gained’t stand as much as discriminatory, threatening conduct.

CNN has opened itself as much as legal responsibility by foisting Lemon’s unmitigated controversial verbal assaults on feminine anchors and staff with relative impunity.

The age of the untouchable marquis worker is over. It’s time for media conglomerates to catch up.

Have a office situation? Possibly I will help. Electronic mail me at sunira@worklylaw.com and your query could also be featured in a future column.

The content material of this text is normal data solely and isn’t authorized recommendation.

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