is out at the cable news network a little over two months after apologizing to viewers for on-air comments about Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, CNN announced Monday

害羞草研究所淐NN and Don have parted ways,害羞草研究所� CNN chair and CEO Chris Licht said in a memo to staff that was also posted on the account. 害羞草研究所淒on 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.害羞草研究所�

CNN did not provide a public explanation for Lemon害羞草研究所檚 departure. But on the 害羞草研究所淐NN This Morning害羞草研究所� co-host害羞草研究所檚 own Twitter account, Lemon contended the news came as a surprise to him and characterized it as a firing. He had appeared on his show that morning.

害羞草研究所淚 was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned,害羞草研究所� he wrote in a statement posted shortly after 12 p.m. Eastern. 害羞草研究所淎fter 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have 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.害羞草研究所�

Around 45 minutes later, CNN issued a rebuttal on its PR account: 害羞草研究所淒on Lemon害羞草研究所檚 statement about this morning害羞草研究所檚 events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.害羞草研究所�

Lemon害羞草研究所檚 ouster came the same day that Fox News announced it was abruptly parting ways with its most popular host,

In mid-February, Lemon when, during a discussion on 害羞草研究所淐NN This Morning害羞草研究所� with co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins about the ages of politicians, he said that the 51-year-old Haley was not 害羞草研究所渋n her prime.害羞草研究所� A woman, he said, was considered in her prime 害羞草研究所渋n her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s.害羞草研究所�

Harlow challenged Lemon, trying to clarify what he was referencing: 害羞草研究所淚 think we need to qualify. Are you talking about prime for childbearing or are you talking about prime for being president?害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淒on害羞草研究所檛 shoot the messenger, I害羞草研究所檓 just saying what the facts are,害羞草研究所� Lemon responded. He brought up the subject again an hour later, and was rebutted by commentator Audie Cornish.

Lemon issued a statement the same day saying he regretted his 害羞草研究所渋nartful and irrelevant害羞草研究所� comments. He was subsequently absent from the show for three days, with a tweeted apology but no mention of the episode on air.

Licht told staffers in a memo at the time that Lemon would but did not specify what that would entail. Licht added that it was important to him that the network 害羞草研究所渂alances accountability with 害羞草研究所� fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes.害羞草研究所�

Lemon used to host the prime-time 害羞草研究所淒on Lemon Tonight害羞草研究所� but moved to the mornings when the network just before the U.S. midterm elections, as one of the first major programming moves under Licht. But the show hasn害羞草研究所檛 had the intended ratings effect, and amid downturn in viewership across the board.

Haley, who had criticized Lemon害羞草研究所檚 statements as sexist and used the incident to fundraise in February, took to Twitter on Monday to call Lemon害羞草研究所檚 ouster 害羞草研究所渁 great day for women everywhere,害羞草研究所� linking to the beverage sleeves emblazoned with 害羞草研究所淧ast my prime? Hold my beer.害羞草研究所�

___

Associated Press Writer Meg Kinnard contributed reporting from Columbia, South Carolina.

David Bauder, The Associated Press