‘Monday Media Massacre’: Twitter Stunned as Lemon, Carlson Handed Pink Slips

Carlson’s Monday departure comes less than a week after Fox News chose to settle a defamation lawsuit with Dominion Voting Systems for a whopping $787.5 million. Lemon, meanwhile, was let go from CNN following a Variety article that claimed he had misogynistic and abusive tendencies towards company staffers.

Netizens were taken for quite the ride on Monday after it was revealed over a short span of time that journalists Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson had been given their pink slips and were sent packing from their broadcast jobs.

Although both news anchors have a history of making controversial comments on the air, reports indicate it was allegedly their behavior behind the scenes that cost them their careers.

Dear lord, is this the Monday Media Massacre or something?

Tucker. Lemon. Who is next?

— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) April 24, 2023

“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,” Lemon posted to Twitter.

CNN took to Twitter to say his tweet about the firing was “inaccurate,” claiming Lemon was offered “the opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”

Carlson, meanwhile, did not make any similar announcement but seemed unaware of his own departure after he signed off his show on Friday, saying he would see his audience on Monday. That fateful Monday came, and Fox News thanked Carlson for his service to the network.

Since the twin announcements, well known media figures took to the Twittersphere to express their thoughts on the media makeover at the two news firms, which have wildly different political views.

Wow Tucker got fired!!!!!!! Byeeeeee

— Adam Kinzinger #fella (@AdamKinzinger) April 24, 2023

Jon Stewart, the former host of the Comedy Central's "Daily Show," reacted with an eyes emoji in a lone tweet.

👀

— Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) April 24, 2023

American journalist Brian Stelter, the former chief media correspondent for CNN, pointed out that Don did not “part ways” with company, as the new CNN CEO Chris Licht had announced, but that he was terminated.

While CNN's internal memo says "CNN and Don have parted ways," @donlemon is being much more explicit: He was terminated pic.twitter.com/PgsAHIXbiF

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 24, 2023

Rather than going the Stewart or Stelter route, US Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) used the opportunity to take a shot at Lemon's departure by giving a nod to an earlier on-air remark he made about how Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was past her prime. Haley is six years younger than Lemon.

"Looks like Don Lemon was actually the one past his prime," the congresswoman tweeted.

Earlier this month, US media detailed various instances in which Lemon let his alleged misogynistic tendencies and "diva"-like behavior run rampant at his former workplace. The revelation outlined how Lemon formed a habit of bullying and harassing female colleagues behind closed doors starting in 2008.

While CNN fans did not appear to view Lemon’s termination as a loss, followers of Carlson took to Twitter and expressed their frustration and disappointment.

The left is celebrating because they think that Tucker Carlson leaving Fox News eliminates his voice.

Wrong.

— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 24, 2023

.@TuckerCarlson has been engaging in the best journalism on TV uncovering and exposing the truth.

This is a huge loss to @FoxNews. https://t.co/X4xGpTc1qc

— Senator Ron Johnson (@SenRonJohnson) April 24, 2023

The former network show host carried with him an average prime-time audience totaling 2.5 million viewers, according to a Forbes article from February.

Other netizens poked fun at the coinciding terminations.

Don Lemon and Tucker Carlson meeting on the unemployment line on the same day: pic.twitter.com/AZxDS6Uspj

— Leon Langford (@MasonLLL) April 24, 2023

I feel bad for Don Lemon. Even on the day he gets fired Tucker Carlson still steals the spotlight 😂😂😂

— 🇺🇸Travis🇺🇸 (@Travis_in_Flint) April 24, 2023

Mood upon hearing the news of Tucker Carlson being canned by Fox:pic.twitter.com/RpM3tCPFkd

— Jo 🌻 (@JoJoFromJerz) April 24, 2023