CNN has responded to Don Lemon's account of being ousted from the news channel giant, referring to his statement as "inaccurate".
Lemon appeared to suggest in a statement released on Monday (April 24) that he was blindsided by his dismissal and claimed there must have been "larger issues at play".
He said in the statement shared on his Twitter account: "I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned.
"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.
"It is clear that there are some larger issues at play. With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run. They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best."
Within an hour of Lemon's statement, CNN shared its response and branded its former news anchor's words as "inaccurate".
The CNN Communications Twitter account wrote: "Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter."
The Twitter account's initial statement on Lemon's departure reflected more fondly on the TV journalist.
It read: "CNN and Don have parted ways. Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years. We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors."
This comes months after Lemon was widely criticized for comments he made about former South Carolina governor and Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
During a segment of CNN This Morning, he described Haley, 51, as being past her "prime".
Check out the controversial moment:"Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry," he said in the segment in February.
"Prime for what?" his co-host Poppy Harlow asked. Lemon went on to say that if you Google it, a woman is considered to be in her "prime" in those ages. Harlow then said: "I think we need to qualify. Are you talking about prime for childbearing or are you talking about prime for being president?"
"Don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just saying what the facts are," Lemon replied. "Google it."
"When a woman is considered to be in her prime — in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s," he sated.
When the segment was taken off air following the remarks, Lemon issued an apologetic statement, saying: "I’m sorry that I said it. And I certainly see why people found it completely misguided."
Lemon first started working for CNN in 2006 after previously having worked as an anchor at NBC Chicago and and as a correspondent for NBC News, the TODAY Show and NBC Nightly News.
