Sources say that Lemon has been at the center of controversies over his on-air comments and treatment of female colleagues.
It has been announced that Don Lemon was terminated from his anchor role at CNN Monday. This news comes after many stories this month about allegations that he mistreated his female colleagues over his career at CNN. He has also been scrutinized over many comments made on air this year.
Lemon has accused CNN of not informing him directly but being told through his agent that he was terminated.
Lemon announced the news on Twitter, saying his agent informed him he was terminated.
Don Lemon in New York on Dec. 11. Mike Coppola / Getty Images for CNN file
"I am stunned," Lemon wrote. "After 17 years at CNN, I would have thought someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly."
In a tweet, CNN refuted Lemon's account as "inaccurate." The network said he was offered a chance to meet with management but "instead released a statement on Twitter."
CNN CEO Chris Licht announced on Monday that the network and Lemon have "parted ways," according to a story from NBC News on Monday, a memo was produced to their News organization on Monday.
"Don will forever be a part of the CNN family, and we thank him for his contributions over the past 17 years," the statement said. "We wish him well and will be cheering him on in his future endeavors."
According to NBC News sources, Lemon joined CNN in 2006 after anchoring at NBC Chicago and working as a correspondent for NBC News, the "TODAY" show, and "NBC Nightly News."
In February, Lemon first came under fire on an episode of “CNN This Morning” in which he commented that Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, age 51, was out of her “prime.” Lemon was said to have said this when discussing a suggestion by Haley that candidates over 75 should be made to have mental competency exams.
“Nikki Haley isn’t in her prime, sorry,” he said. “A woman is considered to be in her prime — in her 20s, 30s, and maybe her 40s.”
When his co-anchor, Poppy Harlow, chimed in, Lemon said she did not “shoot the messenger.”
CNN'S Licht informed employees that Don Lemon agreed to go through some training following public backlash to his comments. He also told others that CNN and Lemon have "moved on."