Don Lemon Breaks Silence About CNN in First Interview Since Firing (VIDEO)
Don Lemon has given his first interview about CNN since being fired by the network in April. In talks with an ABC News local affiliate in Memphis, he spoke out about former CNN CEO Chris Licht‘s leadership and his goals of making the news network’s coverage more centrist.
Licht stepped down as CNN CEO in early June, just six weeks after Lemon’s ousting. His departure came shortly after the Donald Trump CNN town hall on May 10. Licht and the network were lambasted for hosting Trump, whose repeated lies about the 2020 election, the January 6 insurrection, and more went largely unchallenged by town hall moderator/Lemon’s former co-star Kaitlan Collins. Addressing CNN’s increased platforming of right-wing politicians, Lemon said his ousting from CNN boiled down to a responsibility to “tell the truth.”
“I have a responsibility not only as a journalist, but as an American, to tell the truth and to abide by the promises of the Constitution. Because the Constitution says ‘a more perfect union,’ not ‘a perfect union.’ I’m not a perfect person, no one is.”
“In order to fulfill the promise of the Constitution, we have to stand up for what is right. We have to stand up for the truth,” he added. Without directly referencing Licht, Lemon implied that CNN’s recent news coverage and platform of right-wing ideologies is a “dereliction of journalistic duty.”
“I don’t believe in platforming liars and bigots, insurrectionists, and election deniers and putting them on the same footing as people who are telling the truth — people who are fighting for what’s right, people who are abiding by the Constitution,” Lemon said. “I think that would be a dereliction of journalistic duty to do those sorts of things.”
“That is what has gotten me to this point, and that is what is going to carry me forward,” Lemon continued. “To know that I am doing the right thing, that I am standing up and abiding by the Constitution, which my profession demands that I do because we are listed in the First Amendment of the Constitution, which is ‘freedom of speech, freedom of expression and freedom of the press.'”
Lemon was with CNN for 17 years before being let go on April 24. He announced his departure on Twitter, saying he was “stunned” that management didn’t 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.” CNN’s PR team said in a subsequent Twitter response that Lemon’s version of the story was inaccurate.
“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate,” the tweet read. “He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”
Lemon’s firing came not long after a Variety exposé detailing his reportedly “diva-like” behavior on set over the years and his mistreatment of female colleagues. Some of those women went on the record for the exposé to detail their negative experiences with the anchor. Licht’s departure from the network also came after a similar exposé was published in The Atlantic, which painted him as an executive obsessed with following Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav’s reported instructions to give Republican viewpoints more attention on the network.
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I think cnn should rehire don lemon a journalist who speaks the truth. Remember free speech.
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CNN lost a great host who I regarded as having insight to the challenges USA faces. I am Canadian. I welcomed Mr Lemon’s evening program…however I did not think he belonged in the morning. I miss his program and wish him well.
BTW….who is not a diva.hahaha, yuk yuk
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I am a Canadian too . I miss his night shows. I have same feeliing he belongs to the evening programs. I just love how he introduce the programs. He support the black people, he gave them a voice.
How many times since he left have you seen CNN mentioning black shootings. If CNN wants their approval rating to be higher at night time. BRING DON LEMON BACK.
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This is a response to both Andy and Tim. Sorry, not a fellow Canadian but a Californian giving his opinion. While Don Lemon did make hurtful comments about women, if he has truly learned the negative impact he caused and uses it as an opportunity to positively grow then I think he deserves to come back. Don Lemon Tonight was a great show on CNN and, honestly, so was Cuomo Prime Time. I used to watch them both on a semi-regular basis. I do not know if it’s available in Canada but there is a network called NewsNation that prides itself on its constant attempt at being neutral in its journalism. Lemon’s colleague, Chris Cuomo, currently has a show there and wouldn’t be surprised if Lemon ended up there as well.
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I was surprised that the network kept him on as long as they did. If he had a different view of one of his guests, he would rudely cut them off and move to a commercial. A real lightweight in the news business IMO.
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No remorse for being rude and condescending.. journalism is about facilitating news from all angles even right republicans. He wanted to feed only left wing news .. SICKENING. WE R GLAD YOU GOT LET GO.
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bring him back to the show that i watch every night
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I'll avoid talking about politics just because - politics. It wasn't a surprise to me that Don Lemon and CNN parted ways especially after the sexist comments he made. Perhaps he could join Chris Cuomo at NewsNation?
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Don Lemonade is to serious journalism what Ghengis Khan was to customer service training.....
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Chengis Khan and your God Idiot Trump are related. They both whenever see girl cannot stop
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Glad to see they took the trash out
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Takes trash to know trash. Don L was a great talent at CNN and is very missed. He will be back on the air soon. CNN made a dumb huge mistake
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Kyle go back and watch don lemon cnn this morning there you see a true full journalist
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Shaw, I’m positive you meant to respond to me because I’m the only one named Kyle in the entire chat. Just confused why you posted your response to me here. Anyways, I am aware that Lemon is a true journalist and he’s a really good one too, in my opinion. He made hurtful comments but that doesn’t impact his ability to report on the news. If Lemon proves himself as truly learning from his mistakes then he should find an appropriate home to showcase his talent.
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At least he is no Trumpist idiot
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