Don Lemon's Sexist Remark Triggers Tense Exchange With CNN Co-hosts: 'Women Past Their Prime At 30'

CNN host Don Lemon, 56, on Thursday, attacked United States presidential candidate Nikki Haley, in remarks that turned the stomachs of his CNN This Morning co-hosts Kaitlan Collins 30,  and Poppy Harlow, 40.

During a speech in Charleston launching her presidential campaign, former US Ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina’s former governor, Nikki Haley told supporters she would “light a fire” under lawmakers, saying: “We will have term limits for Congress and mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old.” She called for politicians over the age of 75 to take “mandatory mental competency tests,” attacking the “faded names of the past” -- a clear reference to President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump who is running for president again.

After showing a video clip of Haley's remarks, Lemon, to the bewilderment of his co-hosts, remarked: “This whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable. I think it’s the wrong road to go down. She says people, you know, politicians are suddenly not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime.”

The 56-year-old homosexual continued: “A woman is considered to be in their prime in [their] the 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”

Harlow immediately called out her misogynistic co-host: “What are you talking about, wait … Prime for what?”

Lemon quickly tried to walk back his sexist comments, claiming he wasn’t stating his personal beliefs. “That’s not according to me,” he said. “It’s like, prime. If you look it up. If you Google when is a woman in her prime, it’ll say 20s, 30s, and 40s.”

He continued: “I’m just saying Nikki Haley should be careful about saying that politicians are not in their prime and they need to be in their prime when they serve. Because she wouldn’t be in her prime according to, you know, Google.”

A furious Harlow reportedly walked off the set during commercial break, and  took a “well-timed” bathroom break with Collins.

The reaction on social media was swift. The woke CNN host who Trump once called the "dumbest person on TV," was harshly called out online by many for his misogynistic comments.

Internally at CNN, new CEO Chris Licht is reportedly not happy and has spoken to Lemon a couple of times since the incident.

Licht reportedly told some employees during an informal meeting Thursday, that “People say stupid things and that if it’s a trend, then there’s recourse.”

After receiving widespread backlash, Lemon issued a public apology. “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,” Lemon tweeted. “A woman’s age doesn’t define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.”

The tense relationship among Lemon, Collins and Harlow has reportedly “been smoldering for months.”

Tensions on the set recently boiled over, with Lemon allegedly “screaming” at Collins off-camera during an ugly December 8 incident that has left the cast and crew rattled ever since.

The 56-year-old reportedly approached Collins following the show’s broadcast -- and unloaded on her in front of staffers as he accused her of “interrupting” him on air.

Lemon reportedly screamed at Collins, who was visibly upset and ran out of the studio. News of the explosive incident made its way up to Licht, who is said to have been appalled by the behavior.

This week's remarks have only added fuel to the calls to have the misogynistic far-left TV host fired from CNN.

WATCH CNN host Don Lemon's sexist remarks on air.