Don Lemon hires same lawyer as Tucker Carlson after anchors both fired from roles

Don Lemon has reportedly hired an entertainment lawyer after he was fired from his job at CNN after 17 years with the network.

The 57-year-old has reportedly brought Bryan Freedman on board to help him navigate his next move, less than 24 hours after he announced his firing.

Sources also told the New York Times that he hopes to be paid out of his contract with CNN, thought to be worth millions, which was meant to run until 2026. 

It is unclear if CNN intends to pay him the remaining sum, with a source telling the New York Times it could result in a possible legal battle.

Freedman is also understood to be representing Tucker Carlson, who was fired from Fox News on Monday, though the reasons for his firing are not currently known.

Don Lemon has hired celebrity lawyer Bryan Freedman to help him navigate his next move after being unceremoniously fired 

Freedman has reportedly been hired by Tucker Carlson, who was fired on Monday from Fox News 

Carlson was one of the key faces of Republican politics thanks to Trump's presidential win -  but his career has been riddled with controversy, thanks to the 53-year-old's opinionated commentary.

His firing came after Fox was forced to fork over a historic $787million settlement to a voting hardware firm over claims the anchor and other network hosts spread lies about its machines during the 2020 election. 

Freedman and CNN did not immediately respond to requests for comment from DailyMail.com.

The entertainment lawyer, who co-founded Freedman & Taitelman LLP, has represented media personalities in multimillion-dollar fights, including Chris Cuomo and Megyn Kelly.

Cuomo hired Freedman after he was fired by CNN over revelations that he provided consulting services to help his brother, then-New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, fight sexual harassment allegations.

Freedman helped Megyn Kelly get $30 million from NBC after they fired her in 2019 - reaching an agreement to pay her entire contract despite early termination. 

He also worked with ex-Bachelor host Chris Harrison to secure a $10 million payout after ABC dropped him when he defended a contestant's decision to attend a Confederate-themed party. 

Insiders say Lemon was removed to enable a rethink of the struggling morning show, and in part due to his highly combative interview last week with Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Sources also told the New York Times that Lemon hopes to be paid out of his contract with CNN, thought to be worth millions, which was meant to run until 2026

Insiders say Lemon was removed to enable a rethink of the struggling morning show, and in part due to his highly combative interview last week with Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy

Tucker Carlson was fired from Fox News on Monday though the reasons for his firing are not currently known

He was visibly irritated during the segment last week, where he snapped at producers communicating with him through an earpiece - saying: 'Please, I cannot keep a thought if you guys are talking in my ear.'

Lemon, who has been spotted smiling after his firing, has been in hot water repeatedly with the network, with several allegations about his behavior towards women coming to the forefront.

Sources claimed before his sacking that he was 'upset' when he realized CNN bosses expected him to work alongside Collins and Harlow rather than as a solo operator.

Lemon reportedly 'expressed unease' with his new position after his 10pm show Don Lemon Tonight was axed amid a reshuffle at the network.

He was also 'under the impression' that his name would be included in the new morning show, which he was told was a 'promotion'.

Lemon's shock firing came just hours after he waved goodbye to the viewers at 8:56am Monday morning.

Harlow and Collins opened CNN's This Morning for the first time since Lemon was removed from the company

He looked relaxed and smiled as he donned a cream teddy-style coat with a navy Ralph Lauren hat and sunglasses while walking the pooches

The 57-year-old said in a statement: '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 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.

'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.'

However CNN hit back at his claims that he was told through his agent, insisting that they invited him in for a meeting which he refused to attend.

Network CEO Chris Licht confirmed the firing in an internal message, thanking Lemon for 17 years on air and telling staff he would 'forever be a part of the CNN family.'

Licht added that he was 'committed' to the success of CNN This Morning, the flailing morning news show Lemon had been helming with Harlow and Collins.

Collins, who Lemon famously clashed with during his time on the show, then added: 'He was one of the first anchors to have me on his show. That's something I'll obviously never forget. We wish him the best'

CNN CEO Chris Licht confirmed the firing of Don Lemon on Monday, thanking him for his work over the past 17 years 

Shortly after news of Lemon's firing broke, a source told DailyMail.com 'Don was given every indication when he made the fake a** apology for his disgusting comments and, still, no one wanted anything to do with him.'

They continued, 'No one owes him anything. He should have had the decency to not be a misogynistic, sexist POS.'

'Don truly believed he was going to always get a get out of jail free card because he is black and gay, which worked to his advantage until it couldn't.'

'It doesn't matter what color you are or what your sexuality is. He lost the respect of all of the women on staff, and no one wanted to work with him.'

'Even after this, he still acted no differently and would give the women he worked with attitude because he could sense that they felt a certain way still.

'Good riddance and good luck getting a job elsewhere.'

Lemon has also clashed several times with White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins live on air, with the pair repeatedly talking over each other.

The incident resulted in a bust-up between the pair, with Lemon 'screaming' at Collins on December 8, which resulted in her running from the set in tears.

After that, he was reportedly told to take a day to 'cool off' by boss Chris Licht but instead blew up on staffers after a company newsletter featured a story about his altercation with the White House Correspondent.

CNN anchor Don Lemon was fired from the network on Monday after months of controversy, and posted a bitter statement on social media shortly after the news broke 

Don Lemon tweeted out his outrage that he had been fired from CNN on Monday afternoon

Lemon waves goodbye at the end of CNN This Morning - a moment that would prove to be his final appearance as a CNN anchor after 17 years with the network

Lemon went 'ballistic' at staffers who highlighted the spat with Collins, according to RadarOnline – with the host claiming she 'interrupted him' during a December broadcast.

Since the incident in December, Lemon was sent to Memphis and on other assignments, while Collins worked remotely from Washington DC on several occasions in January.

He was forced to apologize two months ago after making a jibe at Republican GOP candidate Nikki Haley – saying she was past her prime. 

Lemon was then forced to undergo 'formal training' after making the sexist comments live on air. 

Harlow took a 'well timed' bathroom break and was followed into the bathroom by Collins after the comment – with a source adding the tense relationship has been 'smoldering for months'.

Lemon reportedly 'expressed unease' with his new position after his 10pm show Don Lemon Tonight was axed amid a reshuffle at the network 

He was forced to apologize two months ago after making a jibe at Republican GOP candidate Nikki Haley – saying she was past her prime

Lemon reportedly angered both his CNN This Morning co-hosts, Kaitlan Collins (left) and Poppy Harlow (right), with his on-set behavior

Lemon missed the show for three days straight, with insiders saying he is aware that he is on his 'final warning' after a series of insulting blunders on the early-morning show.

Licht, who has slammed Lemon's remarks, sent a memo to staffers Monday saying that Lemon has agreed to participate in training.

According to a memo sent to staffers at the time, Licht said: 'I sat down with Don and had a frank and meaningful conversation.

'He has agreed to participate in formal training, as well as continuing to listen and learn. We take this situation very seriously.

'It is important to me that CNN balances accountability with a fostering a culture in which people can own, learn and grow from their mistakes.'

Lemon returned to the show after the controversy, but did not acknowledge the backlash he faced live on air – instead issued a groveling apology online moments before the show started.

Licht previously said that the remarks were 'upsetting, unacceptable and unfair to his co-hosts, and ultimately a huge distraction to the great work of this organization' during an editorial call.

Lemon was former CNN's CEO Jeff Zucker's primetime liberal mouthpiece for years 

CNN have refuted Lemon's version of events, saying he was given the opportunity to meet with management before he was fired

Don Lemon told viewers to 'Google it' when his co-hosts pushed back on his claims about women being 'past their prime' over 40-years old

Lemon tweeted just before going on air: 'I appreciate the opportunity to be back on CNN This Morning today.

'To my network, my colleagues and our incredible audience — I'm sorry. I've heard you, I'm learning from you, and I'm committed to doing better. See you soon.'

The host took an unscheduled day off, after jetting off to Miami with his fiancé on a planned trip - which conveniently coincided with the backlash.

He also lost out on an interview with disgraced Congressman George Santos to TalkTV's Piers Morgan following his comments.

A week prior he was shot down by Collins and Harlow after they accused him of mansplaining why the US men's soccer team should get paid more – despite their lack of success.

He insisted that he was joking when he said that men were 'more interesting to watch'- with the interaction making for awkward viewing.

CNN This Morning has suffered a ratings bomb and early last month experienced its least-viewed week since launch, averaging just over 330,000 viewers.