Don Lemon has been a controversial figure in the news for quite some time now. The CNN host has been in hot water recently following accusations of exhibiting “diva-like” behavior and making misogynistic comments. Despite the alleged scandals, Lemon is still a part of the network’s team.
It all started with a recent clip of Don Lemon and co-host Poppy Harlow discussing Jon Stewart’s interview with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. In the interview, Stewart criticized the Department of Defense for boasting a massive budget while at the same time a number of veterans are homeless and on food stamps. Lemon then appeared to criticize Stewart for having more “leeway” as a comedian in what appeared to be a hot-mic moment during a “CNN This Morning” segment.
“He gets a lot of leeway with the comedian thing, though,” Lemon was heard saying.
After that comment, Lemon said how Stewart was “more than a comedian.”
“So Stewart questioned why some veterans are facing food insecurity despite the Defense Department’s massive budget, Hicks acknowledge it has been a problem in the past, but said that the Biden Administration has made it a ‘major priority.’ We’re just discussing like Jon Stewart is so much more than a comedian. He’s a thought leader,” Lemon said.
This was followed by a damning report from Variety which accused Lemon of displaying “diva-like” behavior and making misogynistic comments. “More troubling was his misogynistic behavior, multiple sources say. Lemon called one of his producers fat to her face. Not long before he was fingered for sending threatening texts to Phillips, he mocked [Nancy] Grace on air by mimicking her, shocking fellow colleagues,” Variety reported.
Despite the accusations, a CNN spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “The story, which is riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete evidence, is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip. It’s amazing and disappointing that Variety would be so reckless.”
And that’s why it’s so frustrating that Don Lemon remains a part of the CNN team despite all of his scandals. It’s not just disappointing, it’s downright disgusting. It’s not enough that CNN keeps Lemon on the air despite all of his controversies. The network is also giving him a platform to criticize people for having more “leeway” to discuss things as a comedian.
No matter what Lemon does, it appears he will always have a job at CNN. That’s why it’s up to viewers to hold the network accountable and make sure his behavior is called out. We’re not saying that Lemon should be fired, but rather that he should be held responsible for his actions. It’s time for CNN to take a stand against this kind of behavior, and it starts by holding Lemon accountable.