June 8, 2023 |
7:35pm
When life gives you lemons….
On the same day embattled CNN boss Chris Licht was sunk as CEO, Don Lemon was floating on a boat in the Hamptons.
The former CNN star, who was fired by Licht after 17 years at the outlet, posted pics of himself boating out East — even with all that noxious Canadian smoke filling the air on Wednesday.
“Started sunny until the smoke creeped in,” Lemon, who has a home in tony Sag Harbor, posted on Instagram Stories from his vessel.
Just days after he was canned in April, Lemon told Page Six, “I’m going to enjoy my summer… spend it on the beach and have a great time.”
And despite rumors Lemon could be welcomed back to CNN now that Licht is out, a source told the Post there is no way he’d return.
“[I] don’t see any scenario” in which Lemon would accept another position as an on-air personality at the network, the source said.
Licht had cast former nighttime anchor Lemon on his disastrous CNN morning show experiment — which also starred Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins.
Lemon ended up being axed after his infamous on-the-air comment that presidential candidate Nikki Haley, 51, “isn’t in her prime.” Collins was then moved to primetime.
Now, sources tell Page Six that CNN’s chief White House correspondent Phil Mattingly — who has been filling in on the morning show — will officially take over as a host.
Reps for CNN did not comment.
Licht left CNN on Wednesday morning after just over a year on the job, and his exit followed a scathing, 15,000-word exposé by the Atlantic.
Licht had previously told staffer in a call that he was staying on as CEO.
The article had revealed a tense behind-the-scenes relationship between Licht, the former “Morning Joe” wunderkind, and the CNN veteran, Lemon.
During rehearsals for the ill-fated CNN morning show, Licht reportedly blurted out, “What the f–k is he wearing?” in response to one of Lemon outfits.
After Lemon flubbed a line in rehearsals, Licht reportedly hissed in a control room, “Read the f–king prompter.”
“Clearly, Licht had dwindling patience for Lemon — his outfits, his ad-libbing, his opinions,” said the piece.
