One of CNN's star anchors, Don Lemon, has been let go by the network leaving the anchor "stunned." CNN said on Monday, April 24, that they have "parted ways" with Mr Lemon, who spent 17 years with the network.
In a statement the network said: "Don 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."
The news come just minutes after one of Fox News' biggest names, Tucker Carlson, left after almost a decade with the network.
In a statement, Fox News said: "FOX News Media and Tucker Carlson have agreed to part ways. We thank him for his service to the network as a host and prior to that as a contributor."
Mr Lemon took to Twitter to share a statement in which he claimed he received the news via his agent.
"I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN," he said.
"I am stunned. After 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.
"It is clear that there are some larger issues at play. With that said, I want to thank my colleagues and the many teams I have worked with for an incredible run.
"They are the most talented journalists in the business, and I wish them all the best."
CNN said Mr Lemon's morning show, hosted with Poppy Harlow and Kailtlan Collins, would continue.
"'CNN This Morning' has been on the air for nearly six months, and we are committed to its success," said the network.
Mr Lemon, 57, appeared on air as usual on Monday morning, April 24.
Don Lemon had a reputation as a fiery political commentator during his eight years spent as a prime-time anchor.
However, he began to lose support inside the network after making remarks in February about women and ageing which were widely received as sexist.
Mr Lemon had said on air that 51-year-old Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, "isn't in her prime, sorry".
He added: "A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s."
Female co-hosts objected, however Mr Lemon responded saying: "I'm just saying what the facts are - Google it."
He did later apologise to the newsroom, and agreed to undertake a corporate training programme to address his on-air behaviour.
The host also faced allegations he mistreated female colleagues over the course of his career.
Earlier this month, Variety published a story full of allegations of disrespectful behaviour from Lemon toward co-anchor Kyra Phillips.
While the pair were presenting the 'Live From' weekday show in 2008, a producer and newsroom supervisor reportedly had to pull Lemon off air during commercial break because of his 'provocative antics'.
Allegedly, while Phillips was on assignment in Iraq, Lemon vented his disappointment at being overlooked by tearing up pictures and notes on top and inside Phillips' desk in the 'news pod' they shared.
Then there were alleged threatening texts. When Phillips returned from Iraq, she along with members of the news team went out to dinner, and she received two threatening texts from an unknown number.
One apparently warned: "Now you've crossed the line, and you're going to pay for it".
Phillips', understandably rattled, enlisted the help of CNN's higher ups to identify the sender. Sources told Variety that those texts were traced back to Lemon and a human resources investigation was launched.
The findings were apparently never disclosed, however Lemon was reportedly abruptly pulled from co-anchor duties with Phillips and moved to weekends.
Mr Lemon's allies hoped after the Nikki Haley incident, the anchor would turn a page. However, CNN executives reportedly gradually came to a conclusion that his future with the network had become unternable - according to sources who spoke to the New York Times on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the internal discussions.
