Don Lemon says he was sexually harassed by colleagues at CNN
Don Lemon says he was sexually harassed by colleagues at CNN
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Don Lemon's show cancelled by Elon Musk after heated interview
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon used "X" ironically to announce that his new show on the social media platform has been canceled before it even began.
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Don Lemon says he was sexually harassed by "women and men" throughout his career, including during his nearly 10-year career stint at CNN.
The former "Don Lemon Tonight" host, who is openly gay, was dismissed by the news network in 2023 after making controversial on-air comments about then-presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, got candid during a Sunday episode of HBO host Bill Maher's "Club Random" podcast.
Lemon said he did not go to HR or management about workplace issues because he thought "they may find a way to get rid of me" and "it's a double standard" for men.
"I have been harassed by women and men in the work(place). And some things are not even — it's ridiculous," Lemon said. "Now look, there are some things that are really egregious, but not everything is Harvey Weinstein-level," he said, referencing the embattled Hollywood producer who's been accused by dozens of sexual harassment and assault.
Former CNN host Don Lemon returns with 'The Don Lemon Show,' new media company
Lemon recalled two instances of harassment he says he experienced at the hands of colleagues who were women, including one "young lady" who jokingly "tweaked my nipples" in the CNN cafeteria and exclaimed, "Oh, it's cold in here!"
Lemon continued: "I said, 'OK, you realize if I did that they'd be walking me out the door right now?' But I didn't care to go to HR. I didn't say anything because I was just like, it's a double standard, it's fine." Lemon slammed one other Atlanta employee who allegedly harassed him when he "was so new there."
USA TODAY reached out to reps for Lemon. CNN declined to comment.
Lemon then discussed the workplace dynamics at play of a woman who knew he was not heterosexual.
"I've never told this story as well, someone who I worked with also harassed me at CNN, and I never went to management. First of all, I was so new there — a woman, and she knew I was gay. And it was bizarre," Lemon said.
"She was going through a divorce, it was just weird. And I never went to management. First of all, I thought, like, 'OK, they may find a way to get rid of me because if I told this story, I don't know if they're going to believe me or not,'" he continued. "But then she was so mean to me after that, I was like, 'I should've told the story.' But yeah, I've been harassed by men and women."
When Maher asked for more details about Lemon being "harassed" by the second colleague, Lemon said "it wasn't a 'twirl for me'" moment in the workplace, but instead, the instances occurred out of the office.
Don Lemon fired by CNN in 2022
Lemon was an anchor for nearly a decade on CNN from 2014 to 2022. The news personality was fired from the network in April 2023 following his headline-making comments on former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who he said was not "in her prime" due to her age, as well as accusations of inappropriate behavior toward female colleagues detailed in a Variety report.
Lemon attempted a comeback with the launch of his own media company and a short-lived partnership with Elon Musk's social media platform X. He has since sued Musk following the cancellation of that partnership.
Now, he frequently goes viral with his own videos on Instagram and X with his podcast "The Don Lemon Show."
This story has been updated to add additional information.
Contributing: Edward Segarra
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