CNN's Kyra Phillips Jokes About Making "Reverse Oreo" With Black Cohost Don Lemon

This afternoon, CNN "Open House" host Gerri Willis came by CNN Newsroom to discuss the economy. Willis joked with anchor Kyra Phillips that if she could predict the stock market, she and Phillips could run off to an island, prompting Phillips' co-anchor, Don Lemon, to ask not to be left out of the girls' getaway. This resulted in the following exchange:

Gerri: Alright Don, you come too.
Kyra: We could bring him along with the girls.
Gerri: Come on!
Kyra: He's paying! Thanks, Gerri.
Don: A little sandwich!
Kyra: Ooh!
Gerri: Whoa, I have to go now!
Kyra: Yeah, good time. You don't want to talk about the reverse oreo!

Willis was visibly embarrassed by Phillips' joke, though Lemon seemed to enjoy it, laughing out loud and announcing, "Oh, she said it! I'm glad she said it."

Watch:

Kyra Phillips and Gerri Willis transformed a segment on the economy into a racially tinged, awkward moment by joking about making a "reverse oreo" with black co-host Don Lemon. Watch! http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1396519189http://www.brightcove.com/channel.jsp?channel=1178199204

From CNN, 1/30

Previously: Kyra Phillips' microphone remains on, streaming her bathroom conversation (about her brother and sister-in-law) over a Bush speech.

Comments

[stop7997]

If this is what passes for news on "the most trusted name in news", then no wonder the American public is so friggin' stupid.

[spiffarino]

Two things:
#1. It looks like good, harmless fun among friends.
#2. It doesn't suck to be him in that situation.

[DickTater]

I am sure mine is not the first comment to say:

All you people who think this was OK are nuts.
Every guy who made a similar slip-up gets fired. Period.

I don't think it is a terrible thing (what she said), but fair is fair. Any guy anchor that said half of that would be fired even before they cut his mike.
Racial and sexual content emanating from a news anchor isn't prob. appropriate. What she said would be ok in most other tv formats.

[Chupacabras]

Can I do a Cameo with those two babes?

[doug108]

No harm, no foul.

[Nimajoon31]

Hah, that was great.
Finally an anchor with a sense of humor...

[researcher]

wow always thought she had a dark side. pun intended.

[kennedy]

I am just waiting for CNN to edit in Senator Hillary Clinton or Presient Bill Clinton. And for Al Sharpton to tell everyone to shut up.

[thankulord13]

As a Black man, this was funny! We all just need to relax!

[Thabiti]

From a guy with a permanent tan, she was just having fun. He took it that way. There was nothing mean about it. No harm, no foul. Lighten up and move on.

[hockeynut]

i seen it when it happened and thought it was hilarious right on Don i'd love to be in between both those fine ladies

[samuraijack]

Don Henley was right in his song, Dirty Laundry. You know, the bubble-headed bleach blonde, comes on at five, She can tell you about the plane crash with a gleam in her eye. I'd suspend her for a week without pay, at the very least. She's a fucking on-air person who get's paid to speak, hell, fire her!! What a dumbass!

[WilliamWallace]

"Stay away from our women! You got metal fever boy! Metal Fever!" -Bender

:)))

[WilliamWallace]

Gerri's beautiful, an smart as hell. I really enjoyed her interview on The Daily Show. Also, if Don can't make it, I'll work the middle ;)))

[WilliamWallace]

Aw come on, Don thought "awwwww yeahhhhh" (insert voice of URL from Futurama)