As the old saying goes, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
What started as a disagreement over air time quickly snowballed into a years-long pattern of misconduct and ego wars.
In the end, it would be Cooper who came out on top.
“That led to a come-to-Jesus moment,” a senior executive of the time told Variety.
“Don was told, ‘Look, you’ve got to address your behavior.
Your performance as a reporter is great.
It’s your behavior that’s gotta improve.
It’s what’s going to derail you if you’re not careful.”
Cooper rarely publicly commented on Lemon’s behavior.
Still, that doesn’t mean Anderson Cooper was an exception to the rule.
“Anderson wants nothing to do with Don anymore,” the source said.
“People inside CNN run when they see Don coming down the hallway.
No one wants to end up on the wrong side when Don messes up again and he will!
He’s a ticking time bomb.”
He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter."
