Don Lemon criticizes legacy media leadership, citing 'failing up' of white executives, amid Colbert show finale and his own career fallout
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has published a Substack essay linking the cancellation of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' to broader issues in legacy media, arguing that unqualified white men are consistently promoted despite failure. Lemon, who was dismissed from CNN in 2023 following on-air controversies and clashes with colleagues, suggests his departure was due to challenging conservative figures. He appears to target former CNN CEO and Colbert producer Chris Licht as a prime example of this 'failing up' phenomenon. While CBS cites financial losses — reportedly $40–50 million annually — as the reason for ending Colbert’s show, Lemon implies political pressure may have played a role, noting the cancellation followed Colbert’s criticism of a Trump-Paramount settlement. Sources agree on the core narrative but differ in tone and inclusion of contextual details such as Licht’s performance, Lemon’s conduct, and his current legal issues.
Both sources report on Don Lemon’s critique of media leadership in light of Colbert’s show ending, but they diverge significantly in framing and completeness. New York Post offers a more factually detailed and contextually grounded account, including Lemon’s own controversies and Licht’s track record, while Fox News emphasizes systemic critique and Lemon’s victimization without balancing it with his personal accountability. Fox News includes unique information about Lemon’s legal issues, absent in New York Post. The tone difference is stark: Fox News leans into Lemon’s narrative with minimal pushback, while New York Post frames his comments as polemical and racially charged.
- ✓ Don Lemon published a Substack essay titled 'Don’t cry for Stephen Colbert. Cry for the First Amendment.'
- ✓ The essay was released ahead of the final broadcast of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,' which CBS has canceled after 33 years.
- ✓ Lemon connects the end of Colbert’s show to his own departure from CNN.
- ✓ Lemon criticizes legacy media institutions for protecting certain individuals while pushing out others who challenge power.
- ✓ Lemon asserts that unqualified white men are repeatedly promoted despite failure — a phenomenon he calls 'failing up.'
- ✓ Lemon claims his CNN exit was due to asking conservatives hard questions and making powerful figures uncomfortable.
- ✓ CBS cited financial challenges as a reason for canceling Colbert’s show.
- ✓ Lemon implies a political motive behind the cancellation, possibly linked to Colbert’s criticism of Trump’s settlement with Paramount.
Identification of the executive targeted by Lemon
Refers to an unnamed executive, 'appearing to reference' Chris Licht, without confirming identity.
Explicitly names Chris Licht as the executive Lemon is criticizing and provides background on his role at both CBS and CNN.
Context around Lemon’s departure from CNN
Presents Lemon’s exit as a result of ideological suppression — being pushed out for holding a mirror to conservatives.
Adds that Lemon was ousted after making sexist remarks about Nikki Haley and clashing with co-anchors, and that the morning show he co-hosted was a 'disastrous launch.'
Assessment of Licht’s tenure at CNN
Does not evaluate Licht’s performance; focuses on systemic bias.
Notes Licht’s 'tumultuous 13-month reign,' slumping ratings, sinking morale, and failure of the new morning show.
Mention of Lemon’s ongoing legal issues
Includes Lemon’s federal civil rights charges and civil lawsuit related to livestreaming activists disrupting a church service.
Does not mention Lemon’s legal troubles at all.
Framing of Lemon’s critique
Presents Lemon’s argument as part of a broader media critique, with a focus on systemic inequity and First Amendment concerns.
Describes Lemon’s essay as 'long-winded, racially charged' and a 'screed,' framing it as personally motivated and inflammatory.
Fox News
Framing: Fox News frames the event as a systemic failure of legacy media to confront racial and ideological bias, positioning Don Lemon as a truth-teller silenced for challenging power. The narrative emphasizes institutional protection of unqualified white men and positions Lemon’s critique as part of a broader fight for media integrity and free speech.
Tone: Defensive of Don Lemon, morally indignant, systemic-critique oriented
Loaded Language: The headline uses emotionally charged language — 'scathing critique,' 'enable right-wing ideologues,' 'suppress liberals' — to frame Lemon’s comments as a moral indictment of media elites.
"Former CNN host Don Lemon launched a scathing critique of the media establishment, arguing that legacy networks enable right-wing ideologues, suppress liberals like himself..."
Vague Attribution: The phrase 'appearing to reference' avoids naming Chris Licht directly while implying guilt, creating insinuation without attribution.
"appearing to reference former CNN CEO and 'Late Show' executive producer Chris Licht"
Editorializing: The article centers Lemon’s perspective without including counterpoints or scrutiny of his own record, allowing his narrative to dominate.
"Lemon is currently fighting federal civil rights charges... after he livestreamed far-left activists disrupting a Sunday service"
Framing by Emphasis: Repetition of 'White men who...' constructs a sweeping generalization without statistical or representative evidence.
"White men who fail spectacularly and are promoted for it... White men who make catastrophic decisions..."
Editorializing: The subheadline 'Broadcast Bias: Late-Night Comedy Death Spiral Shows How Leftist Hate Killed Their Humor' introduces a right-leaning editorial stance not present in the main article, suggesting internal ideological layering.
"Broadcast Bias: Late-Night Comedy Death Spiral Shows How Leftist Hate Killed Their Humor"
New York Post
Framing: New York Post frames Lemon’s comments as a personal, emotionally charged attack disguised as systemic critique. It positions Licht as a real-world example of failure but contextualizes Lemon’s grievances within his own professional downfall, suggesting his narrative is self-serving.
Tone: Skeptical of Don Lemon, factually contextual, dismissive of rhetoric
Loaded Language: The headline labels Lemon’s essay as 'racially charged' and 'long-winded,' setting a dismissive tone before presenting content.
"Don Lemon trashes ex-boss... in a long-winded, racially charged essay"
Loaded Language: Describing Lemon’s post as a 'screed' conveys contempt and delegitimizes his argument before it is presented.
"Lemon’s outrageous comments came in a Substack screed"
Cherry-Picking: The article includes contextual counter-narratives — Lemon’s sexist remarks, failed morning show, clashes with co-anchors — that challenge Lemon’s self-portrayal as a victim of ideology.
"Lemon, who was ousted after he made sexist remarks about politician Nikki Haley and clashed with his co-anchors"
Comprehensive Sourcing: Highlights Licht’s poor performance at CNN (slumping ratings, low morale) to support Lemon’s 'failing up' claim, but presents it as factual context rather than systemic critique.
"Licht’s tumultuous 13-month reign... was marred by slumping ratings and sinking employee morale"
Framing by Emphasis: Notes Lemon’s omission of his own missteps while focusing on race, implying selective storytelling.
"In his blog post... Lemon did not address his own missteps but opted to focus on race"
Narrative Framing: Suggests a possible political motive for Colbert’s cancellation by linking timing to criticism of Trump-Paramount deal, but presents it as speculative ('But he emphasized what’s also true').
"Now it has trickled all the way to late night television"
New York Post
New York Post provides more contextual detail about the executive in question (Chris Licht), the timeline of his career moves, the performance issues at CNN under his leadership, and Lemon’s own controversial conduct leading to his departure. It also includes financial data about Colbert’s show and a potential political motive for its cancellation, offering a more layered account.
Fox News
Fox News presents Lemon’s argument cohesively and emphasizes systemic critique of media power structures, but omits key details about Licht’s identity, Lemon’s own controversies, and the performance context of the CNN morning show. It reads more like a platform for Lemon’s narrative than a journalistic analysis.
No related content
Don Lemon claims an unqualified White man 'failed up' from Colbert's show to CNN and then fired him
Don Lemon trashes ex-boss ahead of Colbert’s last show: ‘Spectacular’ example ‘of a white man failing up’