Don Lemon Claims He Was Assaulted, Harrased While At CNN

📢 Former CNN anchor Don Lemon made shocking allegations during a recent appearance on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, claiming he experienced sexual harassment from both men and women during his time at the network.

🔥 Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023, shared previously untold accounts of inappropriate workplace behavior, revealing that he never reported the incidents due to concerns about being believed or facing repercussions.

Don Lemon Details Harassment Incidents at CNN

💬 “I remember when I was in Atlanta, in the cafeteria—commissary, whatever—at CNN, and this woman, young lady, tweaked my nipples and said, ‘Oh, it’s cold in here,’” Lemon told Maher.

🚨 He explained that he was shocked by the inappropriate behavior and acknowledged the clear double standard in workplace conduct.

💬 “I said, ‘Okay, you realize if I did that, they’d be walking me out the door right now.’ But I didn’t—I didn’t care. I didn’t go to HR. I didn’t say anything because… it’s a double standard.”

🔎 Lemon went on to disclose another previously unshared account of harassment by a female colleague at CNN.

💬 “I’ve never told this story before. Someone I worked with also harassed me at CNN, and I never went to management. It was a woman, and she knew I was gay. It was bizarre—she was going through a divorce, and it was just weird,” he explained.

⚠️ Lemon revealed that he chose to stay silent out of fear that CNN would use the situation against him.

💬 “I thought, ‘Okay, they may find a way to get rid of me because if I told the story, I don’t know if they’re going to believe me or not.’”

🔎 He later regretted his decision, particularly after the female colleague allegedly became hostile toward him.

💬 “She was so mean to me after that, I was like—I should have told the story.”

Workplace Harassment Outside the CNN Newsroom

🥂 Lemon described additional incidents of inappropriate behavior that took place outside the newsroom in social settings, such as cocktail parties and work-related events.

💬 “We were at a restaurant and they were drinking, they’re like, ‘Oh my God, look at you. You’ve lost weight, you look so hot,’” he recalled.

🤔 Maher challenged Lemon on whether these experiences were truly being taken seriously.

💬 “It works both ways,” Lemon responded, acknowledging that inappropriate workplace behavior is a widespread issue regardless of gender.

📌 While Lemon stopped short of detailing every encounter, he implied that such incidents were common in the industry.

💬 “It was not in the office but yeah, it’s all… won’t go that far. So you had to be with her in certain business occasions, outside the office, like at a cocktail party, places like that.”

Lemon’s Tumultuous CNN Career and Controversial Exit

📺 Lemon rose to prominence during his tenure at CNN, hosting “Don Lemon Tonight” and co-anchoring “CNN This Morning.” However, his career at the network was riddled with controversies that ultimately led to his dismissal in 2023.

🚨 One of his most heated controversies came in December when he went on a profanity-laced tirade against Trump supporters over their stance on H1-B visas.

💬 “Oh my gosh, I love this. Now you’re finding out, you dumb f–king idiots. Now you’re just figuring this sh— out. You’re so f–king stupid, and you deserve it,” Lemon ranted, as reported by the New York Post.

⚡ He went on to accuse Trump supporters of being “co-opted” by a cult.

💬 “You have been co-opted because you’re in a f–king cult and you don’t even realize it because you have stupid MAGA brain, and you don’t get it. How stupid and dumb are you?”

Lemon’s History of Controversial On-Air Remarks

✈️ Lemon has been no stranger to controversy throughout his career. One of his most infamous moments came in 2014 when he speculated on-air that missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 may have been swallowed by a black hole.

💬 “Is it preposterous… that a black hole could have swallowed the plane?” Lemon asked, a remark that led to widespread ridicule.

😂 Even then-CNN boss Jeff Zucker reportedly mocked Lemon’s comment, dismissing the theory outright.

💬 “Don’t be an idiot,” Zucker reportedly said, according to a profile piece in The New Yorker.

📉 His credibility took further hits over the years due to multiple on-air gaffes and conflicts with colleagues, eventually contributing to his ousting from the network.

What’s Next for Don Lemon?

🔎 With his revelations about workplace harassment and reflections on his CNN career, Lemon remains a polarizing figure in the media world.

🚀 Despite his firing, he continues to make headlines, leaving many to wonder what’s next for the former primetime host.

💬 What do you think about Don Lemon’s allegations and his controversial exit from CNN? Share your thoughts in the comments!