Don Lemon apologizes to CNN colleagues for sexist remarks: ‘I’m sorry that I said it’

CNN anchor Don Lemon apologized to his colleagues on Friday over sexist remarks he made on the network’s morning show about when women are “in their prime,” telling staffers during the company’s daily editorial meeting that he was sorry for offending them.

“I’m sorry that I said it,” Lemon said. “And I certainly see why people found it completely misguided.”

“When I make a mistake, I own it,” Lemon added. “And I own this one as well.”

Lemon made the comments about women during a Thursday discussion on “CNN This Morning” over former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s presidential candidacy, drawing swift and fierce backlash.

When declaring her run for the presidency, Haley called for mental competency tests for politicians over the age of 75. Lemon argued that Haley herself “isn’t in her prime.”

Lemon attempted to support his argument by saying that a woman is only “considered to be in their prime in 20s and 30s and maybe 40s.”