Don Lemon

{{Short description|American journalist and news anchor (born 1966)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Don Lemon

| image = Don Lemon at the 2018 Pulitzer Prizes.jpg

| caption = Lemon in 2018

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1966|3|1}}

| birth_place = Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.

| education = Brooklyn College (BA)

| occupation = Journalist

| employer = CNN (2006−2023)

| spouse = {{marriage|Tim Malone|2024}}

| awards = {{unbulleted list|Regional Emmy Award|Edward R. Murrow Award|}}

| party = Independent{{cite web |last=Concha |first=Joe |date=November 3, 2018 |title=CNN's Don Lemon reveals political affiliation |work=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/414691-cnns-don-lemon-reveals-political-affiliation |access-date=November 3, 2018 |archive-date=May 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523232012/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/414691-cnns-don-lemon-reveals-political-affiliation |url-status=live }}

| relatives =

| website = {{URL|https://donlemon.com/}}

}}

Don LemonDon Lemon, "...the internet has my name wrong...", "...my middle name is not Carlton...", "my name is not Donald—just Don", Don Lemon Tonight, December 1, 2021 (born March 1, 1966) is an American television journalist best known for being a host on CNN from 2014 until 2023. He anchored weekend news programs on local television stations in Alabama and Pennsylvania during his early days as a journalist.{{Cite web |url=https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/lemon-don-1966/ |title=African American History. Don Lemon |date=March 28, 2013 |access-date=October 29, 2022 |archive-date=September 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928124927/https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/lemon-don-1966/ |url-status=live }} Lemon worked as a news correspondent for NBC on its programming, such as Today and NBC Nightly News. Lemon is also a recipient of an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2002 for his coverage of the capture of the Washington, D.C. snipers. He also received three regional Emmy Awards for his special report on real estate in Chicago and a business feature on Craigslist.{{cite web|url= https://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/about/meet-our-guests/don-lemon|title= Finding Your Roots: Don Lemon|website= Finding Your Roots|access-date= May 10, 2023}}

He joined CNN in 2006, also as a correspondent and later achieved prominence as the presenter of Don Lemon Tonight from 2014 to 2022. He most recently served as a co-host of CNN This Morning, alongside Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow. After several on-air controversies and reports of alleged decades-long instances of misogyny, he was fired by CNN in April 2023.{{Cite web |last=Madani |first=Doha |date=April 24, 2023 |title=Don Lemon says he has been fired from CNN |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/media/don-lemon-says-fired-cnn-rcna78349 |access-date=April 24, 2023 |publisher=NBC News |language=en |archive-date=April 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424162939/https://www.nbcnews.com/media/don-lemon-says-fired-cnn-rcna78349 |url-status=live }}

Early life and education

Lemon was born March 1, 1966, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the son of Katherine Marie (Bouligney) and Wilmon Lee Richardson.{{cite web |date=February 19, 2011 |title=Don Lemon: Address; Distinguished Alumnus Award |publisher=Brooklyn College |url=http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/pub/2138.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219013547/http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/pub/2138.htm |archive-date=February 19, 2011}}{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Kam |date=August 21, 2013 |title=Don Lemon talks journalism, coming out and his 'March on Washington' special |website=The Bay State Banner |url=https://www.baystatebanner.com/2013/08/21/don-lemon-talks-journalism-coming-out-and-his-march-on-washington-special/ |access-date=May 14, 2019 |archive-date=May 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514072437/https://www.baystatebanner.com/2013/08/21/don-lemon-talks-journalism-coming-out-and-his-march-on-washington-special/ |url-status=live }} His father was a prominent attorney whose firm was party to a lawsuit that successfully challenged racial segregation of public transportation in Baton Rouge.Stated on April 20, 2021, epside of Finding Your Roots, Lemon was born under the surname of his mother's then-husband, and discovered that Richardson was his father when he was five. He is of mostly African-American ancestry, along with Creole; his maternal grandmother was the daughter of a black mother and a white father, who had French and Scots-Irish ancestry.{{Cite web |date=October 16, 2014 |title=CNN Roots with Don Lemon: An Étouffée of Stories |work=Ancestry Blog |url=http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2014/10/16/cnn-roots-with-don-lemon-an-etouffee-of-stories/ |access-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-date=May 1, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160501162156/http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2014/10/16/cnn-roots-with-don-lemon-an-etouffee-of-stories/ |url-status=live }} Lemon has stated he was sexually molested as a child by a teenage boy who lived nearby, and that he knew he was gay prior to this incident.{{cite web |last=Watts |first=Laurence |date=September 15, 2011 |title=Interview: Don Lemon, CNN's openly gay anchorman |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2011/09/15/interview-don-lemon-cnns-openly-gay-anchorman/ |access-date=May 5, 2024 |website=PinkNews }} He attended Baker High School, a public high school in the town of Baker in East Baton Rouge Parish. He was voted class president during his senior year.{{Cite web |last=Brodesser-Albert |first=Taffy |others=Photography by Chris Buck |date=April 21, 2015 |title=Don Lemon Is the Anchor America Deserves |website=GQ |url=https://www.gq.com/story/don-lemon-anchor |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=December 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205062133/https://www.gq.com/story/don-lemon-anchor |url-status=live }}

Lemon attended Louisiana State University where he was a Republican and voted for Ronald Reagan. He later graduated from Brooklyn College with a major in broadcast journalism in 1996 at the age of 30. While at Brooklyn College, he interned at WNYW.{{Cite web |last=Concha |first=Joe |date=January 2, 2019 |title=CNN's Lemon mistakes local reporter for ex-girlfriend during New Year's Eve telecast |website=The Hill |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/423457-cnns-lemon-mistakes-local-reporter-for-ex-girlfriend-during-new-years-eve-telecast |access-date=December 2, 2019 |archive-date=August 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812012432/https://thehill.com/homenews/423457-cnns-lemon-mistakes-local-reporter-for-ex-girlfriend-during-new-years-eve-telecast |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=CNN Profiles - Don Lemon - Anchor |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/profiles/don-lemon-profile |access-date=April 7, 2020 |archive-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201145902/https://www.cnn.com/profiles/don-lemon-profile |url-status=live }} He worked for Fox affiliates in St. Louis and Chicago for several years, and was a correspondent for NBC affiliates in Philadelphia and Chicago.

Career

= Regional reporter =

Early in his career, Lemon reported as a weekend news anchor for WBRC in Birmingham, Alabama, and for WCAU in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For several years he was an anchor and investigative reporter for Fox affiliate KTVI in St. Louis, Missouri, and Fox's Chicago affiliate.{{cite news |title=Don Lemon |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/lemon.don.html |access-date=January 8, 2011 |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711005932/http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/lemon.don.html |url-status=live }} Lemon reported for NBC News's New York City operations, including working as a correspondent for both Today, and NBC Nightly News; and as an anchor on Weekend Today and programs on MSNBC. In 2003, he began working at NBC owned-and-operated station WMAQ-TV in Chicago, and was a reporter and local news co-anchor. He won three Emmys for local reporting while at WMAQ.

= CNN (2006−2023) =

Lemon joined CNN in September 2006. He has been outspoken in his work at CNN, criticizing the state of cable news and questioning the network publicly.{{cite web |last=Williams |first=Wyatt |date=December 22, 2011 |title=Can Don Lemon set CNN straight? |website=Creative Loafing |publisher=Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-185611-cover-story-can-don-lemon-set-cnn |access-date=November 8, 2022 |archive-date=November 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108142822/https://creativeloafing.com/content-185611-cover-story-can-don-lemon-set-cnn |url-status=live }} He has also voiced strong opinions on ways that the African American community can improve their lives, which has caused some controversy.{{cite web |last=Brett |first=Jennifer |date=August 2, 2013 |title=Fact-checking CNN's Don Lemon |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |url=http://www.accessatlanta.com/weblogs/buzz/2013/aug/02/fact-checking-cnns-don-lemon/ |access-date=August 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804214413/http://www.accessatlanta.com/weblogs/buzz/2013/aug/02/fact-checking-cnns-don-lemon/ |archive-date=August 4, 2013}}

In 2014, CNN began to pilot prime time shows hosted by Lemon, including The Eleventh Hour and The Don Lemon Show. Following the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, Lemon began to host a special, nightly program featuring discussion and analysis of the event by aviation experts.{{Cite news |last=Brodesser-Akner |first=Taffy |date=April 20, 2015 |title=Anchorman: The Legend of Don Lemon |work=GQ |url=https://www.gq.com/story/don-lemon-anchor |access-date=June 11, 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143831/https://www.gq.com/story/don-lemon-anchor |url-status=live }} After a realignment of CNN's schedule following the cancellation of Piers Morgan Live, this hour was replaced by the news program CNN Tonight; Lemon would later become the permanent host of the hour as CNN Tonight with Don Lemon.{{Cite web |title=CNN Tonight with Don Lemon Is Now Don Lemon Tonight |url=https://adweek.it/3tUsJIl |url-status=live |access-date=May 16, 2021 |website=TVNewser |date=May 15, 2021 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409015847/https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/cnn-tonight-with-don-lemon-is-now-don-lemon-tonight/478615/ }} Lemon has also participated in CNN's New Year's Eve Live as a correspondent from a city in the Central Time Zone, most often alongside fellow CNN anchor Brooke Baldwin.{{Cite web |last=Bennett |first=Anita |date=January 1, 2020 |title=Don Lemon Rings In New Year With Song And Dance Live On CNN |url=https://deadline.com/2019/12/don-lemon-rings-in-new-year-with-song-cnn-nye-1202819180/ |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010011623/https://deadline.com/2019/12/don-lemon-rings-in-new-year-with-song-cnn-nye-1202819180/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Duffy |first=Nick |date=January 2, 2020 |title=Gay CNN anchor Don Lemon rings in the New Year with his annual tradition of getting drunk on live TV |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/02/don-lemon-cnn-news-anchor-journalist-new-year-drunk-live-tv-video/ |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=PinkNews |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010011623/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/01/02/don-lemon-cnn-news-anchor-journalist-new-year-drunk-live-tv-video/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Gilmer |first=Marcus |date=January 1, 2017 |title=Don Lemon got real (drunk) on New Year's Eve |url=https://mashable.com/article/don-lemons-fun-new-years-eve |access-date=October 10, 2022 |website=Mashable |language=en |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010011626/https://mashable.com/article/don-lemons-fun-new-years-eve |url-status=live }}

In May 2021, it was announced that Lemon, along with fellow CNN journalist Chris Cuomo, would launch a podcast named The Handoff centering around "politics and personal".{{cite news |last1=Brisco |first1=Elise |title=Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon's banter is moving from screen to audio with new podcast 'The Handoff' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2021/05/12/cnn-chris-cuomo-don-lemon-unscripted-podcast-the-handoff/5053806001/ |access-date=May 13, 2021 |work=USA Today |date=May 13, 2021 |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513140222/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/2021/05/12/cnn-chris-cuomo-don-lemon-unscripted-podcast-the-handoff/5053806001/ |url-status=live }} On May 17, CNN Tonight with Don Lemon was retitled to simply Don Lemon Tonight; Lemon apologized for how he teased the rebranding on his show, stating that he "didn't mean to set the internet on fire"—in reference to viewers who thought that Lemon would be departing CNN.{{Cite web |date=May 15, 2021 |title=Don Lemon Announces Departure From 'CNN Tonight' (Video) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/don-lemon-announces-departure-from-cnn-tonight-video/ |access-date=May 15, 2021 |website=TheWrap |archive-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515041621/https://www.thewrap.com/don-lemon-announces-departure-from-cnn-tonight-video/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Don Lemon 'set the internet on fire' over name change to show |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-don-lemon-cnn-show-ending-20210515-gqfuumirl5dfng3zcqlp4bea4e-story.html |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=Daily News|location=New York |archive-date=May 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515172920/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-don-lemon-cnn-show-ending-20210515-gqfuumirl5dfng3zcqlp4bea4e-story.html |url-status=live }}

In February 2022, CNN announced Lemon would be hosting a talk show for CNN's then-forthcoming streaming service CNN+ called The Don Lemon Show.{{cite web |last1=Tran |first1=Sophie |title=Don Lemon to Host New Talk Show on CNN+ |url=https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2022/02/01/don-lemon-to-host-new-talk-show-on-cnn/ |website=CNN Press Room |access-date=May 16, 2022 |date=February 1, 2022 |archive-date=May 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516193058/https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2022/02/01/don-lemon-to-host-new-talk-show-on-cnn/ |url-status=dead }} Two episodes were released in the service's sole month of operation in April 2022.{{cite web |title=Shows A-Z - don lemon show, the on cnn plus |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/showatch/don-lemon-show/listings/ |website=The Futon Critic |access-date=April 27, 2022 }}

On September 15, 2022, it was announced that Lemon would co-anchor a new CNN morning show with Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow later in the year.{{Cite web |last=Darcy |first=Oliver |date=September 15, 2022 |title=CNN announces it will debut new morning show with Don Lemon, Poppy Harlow, and Kaitlan Collins |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/15/media/cnn-morning-show/index.html |access-date=September 15, 2022 |publisher=CNN |language=en |archive-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220915212131/https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/15/media/cnn-morning-show/index.html |url-status=live }} On October 12, 2022, it was announced that the morning show would be named CNN This Morning.{{Cite web |last=DAVID BAUDER |first=Associated Press |date=October 12, 2022 |title=CNN reveals name, start date for new morning show |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/ap-cnn-reveals-name-start-date-for-new-morning-show/ |access-date=October 20, 2022 |website=The Hill |language=en-US |archive-date=October 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018210106/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/ap-cnn-reveals-name-start-date-for-new-morning-show/ |url-status=live }} Lemon's tenure on the show ended with his April 2023 firing.{{Cite web |last=Reimann |first=Nicholas |title=Don Lemon Fired By CNN—Minutes After Tucker Carlson Out At Fox News |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/04/24/don-lemon-fired-by-cnn-minutes-after-tucker-carlson-out-at-fox-news/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=April 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424163003/https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/04/24/don-lemon-fired-by-cnn-minutes-after-tucker-carlson-out-at-fox-news/ |url-status=live }}

== Political commentary ==

Lemon's outspoken criticism of Donald Trump made him a target of the president.{{cite web |last=Derysh |first=Igor |date=November 8, 2018 |title=Benjamin Matthews: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know |url=https://heavy.com/news/2018/11/benjamin-matthews-cnn-don-lemon/ |access-date=October 8, 2019 |website=Heavy |archive-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008005047/https://heavy.com/news/2018/11/benjamin-matthews-cnn-don-lemon/ |url-status=live }} In January 2018, after Trump controversially referred to countries such as El Salvador, Haiti, and Honduras as "shitholes" during a meeting on immigration, Lemon opened CNN Tonight with a proclamation that "The president of the United States is racist. A lot of us already knew that."{{cite news |last=Schmidt |first=Samantha |date=January 12, 2018 |title=This is CNN Tonight. I'm Don Lemon. The president of the United States is racist. |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/01/12/this-is-cnn-tonight-im-don-lemon-the-president-of-the-united-states-is-racist/ |access-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905203410/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/01/12/this-is-cnn-tonight-im-don-lemon-the-president-of-the-united-states-is-racist/ |url-status=live }} In March 2016, Lemon was interviewing Omarosa Newman and Kellyanne Conway about the Republican presidential primary. Lemon cut to a commercial break after calling for Newman's microphone to be turned off because she did not want to begin the interview with his original question about a tweet comparing the physical appearances of Trump's wife and US Senator Ted Cruz's wife, which Trump had retweeted.{{cite web | url=https://www.theroot.com/watch-don-lemon-goes-off-on-omarosa-for-skirting-donal-1790854759 | title=Watch: Don Lemon Goes off on Omarosa for Skirting Donald Trump Question | date=March 27, 2016 }}

In October 2018, during a discussion with Chris Cuomo on Cuomo Prime Time amid the Jeffersontown shooting, Lemon argued that Americans should not "demonize any one group or any one ethnicity", and that domestic terrorism by white supremacist Americans, "most of them radicalized to the right", were a bigger threat to the safety of the country than foreigners. He went on to ask, "there is no travel ban on [white people], they have the Muslim ban, there is no white guy ban, so what do we do about that?" Lemon's remarks were criticized by conservative figures, who felt that it was "race baiting" and contradicted his suggestion that Americans should not "demonize any one group or any one ethnicity." In response to the criticism, Lemon cited data from a report by the Government Accountability Office stating that there had been 255 fatalities between September 12, 2001, and December 31, 2016, involving domestic extremists, and that killings by far-right extremists outranked those by Islamic extremists in 10 of the 15 years tracked. In the same period, no deaths were credited to attacks by far-left extremists.{{Cite web |last=Concha |first=Joe |date=October 31, 2018 |title=Don Lemon: 'White men' are biggest terror threat to US, and there is no travel ban on them |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/414002-don-lemon-white-men-are-biggest-terror-threat-to-us-and-there-is-no-travel-ban/ |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=The Hill |language=en-US |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009053043/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/414002-don-lemon-white-men-are-biggest-terror-threat-to-us-and-there-is-no-travel-ban/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=CNN's Don Lemon calls white men the 'biggest terror threat' in America, and data backs him up |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4622175/don-lemon-white-men-terror-threat/ |access-date=April 12, 2021 |website=Global News |language=en-US |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412201853/https://globalnews.ca/news/4622175/don-lemon-white-men-terror-threat/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Bever |first=Lindsay |date=November 1, 2019 |title=CNN's Don Lemon doubles down after saying white men are 'the biggest terror threat in this country' |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2018/10/31/cnn-host-don-lemon-said-white-men-are-biggest-terror-threat-this-country/ |access-date=October 7, 2019 |archive-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008002400/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2018/10/31/cnn-host-don-lemon-said-white-men-are-biggest-terror-threat-this-country/ |url-status=live }}

== Involvement in Jussie Smollett case ==

Lemon faced accusations of unethical journalism during the trial of the Jussie Smollett hate crime hoax case. It was revealed during court testimony that Lemon had sent Smollett messages informing him that the Chicago Police Department did not believe his account of what had happened on the night in question. Lemon who covered the trial on his CNN show Don Lemon Tonight did not disclose his involvement or his interactions with Smollett.{{cite web|url= https://www.newsweek.com/don-lemon-faces-ethical-questions-over-jussie-smolletts-tip-off-testimony-racial-attack-chicago-1657664|title= Don Lemon Faces 'Ethical Questions' Over Jussie Smollett's Tip-Off Testimony|website= Newsweek|date= December 9, 2021|access-date= April 26, 2023|archive-date= April 26, 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230426181516/https://www.newsweek.com/don-lemon-faces-ethical-questions-over-jussie-smolletts-tip-off-testimony-racial-attack-chicago-1657664|url-status= live}}{{cite web|url= https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/don-lemon-ripped-for-not-mentioning-role-in-jussie-smollett-investigation-during-cnn-trial-coverage|title= CNN's Don Lemon Criticized for Not Mentioning His Role in Jussie Smollett Incident|website= Complex|access-date= April 26, 2023|archive-date= December 2, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20221202052727/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/don-lemon-ripped-for-not-mentioning-role-in-jussie-smollett-investigation-during-cnn-trial-coverage|url-status= live}}

== Allegations of misogyny ==

In December 2022, Lemon was involved in an onscreen argument with co-anchors Collins and Harlow over the pay inequity in women's sports. Lemon argued that "people are more interested in the men". In defending his stance, he stated that he could not be sexist because he had grown up as the only male in a family of all women.{{Cite web |title=Don Lemon On U.S. Men's Soccer Team: 'If They Make More Money, Then They Should Get More Money' |url=https://news.yahoo.com/don-lemon-u-mens-soccer-215215371.html |access-date=April 12, 2023 |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=December 8, 2022 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230412184916/https://news.yahoo.com/don-lemon-u-mens-soccer-215215371.html |url-status=live }}

On February 19, 2023, after Nikki Haley called for "mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75 years old", Lemon said "this whole talk about age makes me uncomfortable, I think it is the wrong road to go down", before continuing "She says people, you know, politicians or something are not in their prime. Nikki Haley isn't in her prime, sorry. A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s." His remarks were criticized online as sexist; Lemon later apologized,{{Cite news |last1=Barr |first1=Jeremy |last2=Ellison |first2=Sarah |date=February 16, 2023 |title=CNN's Don Lemon says he regrets comment about women's 'prime' age |language=en-US |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2023/02/16/don-lemon-nikki-haley-cnn-prime-apology/ |access-date=April 25, 2023 |issn=0190-8286 |archive-date=March 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308124907/https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2023/02/16/don-lemon-nikki-haley-cnn-prime-apology/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Mia |title=Haley: CNN anchors age comment 'rolls off my shoulders' |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/17/haley-cnn-don-lemon-age-comment-00083440 |date=February 17, 2023 |access-date=February 18, 2023 |website=Politico |language=en |archive-date=February 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218001834/https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/17/haley-cnn-don-lemon-age-comment-00083440 |url-status=live }} and did not appear on CNN This Morning on February 20;{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/embattled-don-lemon-absent-monday-cnn-morning-97331712 |title=Embattled Don Lemon absent Monday from 'CNN This Morning' |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ABC News |date=February 20, 2023 |access-date=February 20, 2023 |archive-date=February 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220145017/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/embattled-don-lemon-absent-monday-cnn-morning-97331712 |url-status=live }} he returned on February 22.{{cite news |last1=Barr |first1=Jeremy |title=Don Lemon returns to CNN but does not mention controversy on air |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2023/02/22/don-lemon-returns-apology/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 22, 2023 |access-date=February 27, 2023 |archive-date=February 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223045016/https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2023/02/22/don-lemon-returns-apology/ |url-status=live }}

In April 2023, Variety published a report alleging that Lemon had a history of misogynistic behavior towards his colleagues, including Soledad O'Brien, Kyra Phillips and Nancy Grace, dating back to 2008. This reportedly included questioning whether O'Brien was black, threatening Phillips, and mocking Grace.{{Cite web |last=Siegel |first=Tatiana |date=April 5, 2023 |title=Don Lemon's Misogyny at CNN, Exposed: Malicious Texts, Mocking Female Co-Workers and 'Diva-Like Behavior' |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/cnn-don-lemon-misogyny-history-nikki-haley-1235574286/ |access-date=April 6, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406012224/https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/cnn-don-lemon-misogyny-history-nikki-haley-1235574286/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Stieb |first=Matt |date=April 5, 2023 |title=Don Lemon Is Reportedly a Misogynist Off-Camera, Too |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/04/don-lemon-is-reportedly-a-misogynist-off-camera-too.html |access-date=April 6, 2023 |website=Intelligencer |language=en-us |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406012224/https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/04/don-lemon-is-reportedly-a-misogynist-off-camera-too.html |url-status=live }} A spokesperson for Lemon denied the allegations, saying, "The story, which is riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete evidence, is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip."{{Cite web |last=Mastrangelo |first=Dominick |date=April 5, 2023 |title=CNN's Don Lemon threatened female coworker in 2008: report |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/3935832-cnns-don-lemon-threatened-female-coworker-in-2008-report/ |access-date=April 6, 2023 |website=The Hill |language=en-US |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406012224/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/3935832-cnns-don-lemon-threatened-female-coworker-in-2008-report/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Saad |first=Nardine |date=April 5, 2023 |title=Don Lemon fires back on '15-year-old gossip' after report alleging misogyny, rule-flouting |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-04-05/don-lemon-cnn-misogyny-allegations |access-date=April 6, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US |archive-date=April 6, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406015913/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-04-05/don-lemon-cnn-misogyny-allegations |url-status=live }}

== Firing from CNN ==

On April 24, 2023, Lemon was fired by CNN; his contract would have expired in 2026. According to The New York Times, CNN had experienced difficulty in booking guests willing to appear on-air with Lemon, and polls had shown his popularity among viewers had declined.{{Cite news |last1=Grynbaum |first1=Michael M. |last2=Koblin |first2=John |last3=Mullin |first3=Benjamin |date=April 24, 2023 |title=Don Lemon, CNN Star Anchor, to Leave the Network |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/business/media/don-lemon-cnn.html |access-date=April 24, 2023 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=April 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424165616/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/24/business/media/don-lemon-cnn.html |url-status=live }} Lemon said that the firing came as a surprise, and that the network had failed to inform him in person, which CNN denied.{{Cite web |last=Hines |first=Morgan |title='I am stunned': Don Lemon fired by CNN, network disputes details |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/04/24/don-lemon-fired-cnn-news-anchor-terminated/11728506002/ |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=USA Today |language=en-US |archive-date=April 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230424181202/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2023/04/24/don-lemon-fired-cnn-news-anchor-terminated/11728506002/ |url-status=live }} This coincidentally occurred on the same day that Tucker Carlson was fired by Fox News.

= ''The Don Lemon Show'' (2024) =

On January 9, 2024, Lemon announced plans for a new show on X, The Don Lemon Show.{{Cite web |last=Bazail |first=Eric |date=January 9, 2024 |title=Don Lemon announces comeback, new show on X |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/09/don-lemon-new-show-twitter-00134540 |website=Politico}} X owner Elon Musk was the show's first interviewee. After the Elon Musk interview was filmed but before the interview aired, Elon Musk cancelled The Don Lemon Show on X, resulting in the interview being published on YouTube and as a podcast instead.{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Musk abruptly cancels 'The Don Lemon Show' on X after he sits for the program's first interview |url=https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-don-lemon-cancellation-bdbed1da86c3640daa63e384c734f5db |access-date=March 31, 2024 |website=AP News |language=en}} Don Lemon stated after the interview, "Elon Musk is mad at me". The interview covered topics such as lawsuits filed by and against Musk, his usage of drugs, his political leanings, and his perspective on immigration and the Great Replacement theory.{{Cite web |last=Patten |first=Dominic |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Elon Musk "Mad" At Don Lemon, Dumps Ex-CNN Anchor's New X Show After One-On-One Sit-Down |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/elon-musk-don-lemon-twitter-show-1235857401/ |access-date=March 14, 2024 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=March 13, 2024 |title=Don Lemon Says Elon Musk Canceled His Show on X After Tense Interview |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/media/elon-musk-cancelled-don-lemon-show-x-7318369f?mod=hp_lead_pos9 |access-date=March 13, 2024 |website=The Wall Street Journal}}{{Cite web |title=Elon Musk's interview with Don Lemon shot out sparks, from Trump and ketamine to immigration and the 'great replacement theory' |url=https://fortune.com/2024/03/19/elon-musk-interview-don-lemon-trump-ketamine-immigration-great-replacement-theory/ |date = March 19, 2024 |website=Fortune}}

Honors and awards

File:Redlight Traffics Inaugural Dignity Gala (10358998734).jpg

class= "wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" ! Organizations ! scope="col"\| Year ! scope="col"\| Notes ! scope="col"\| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"\| {{refh}}
scope="row" rowspan="1"\| Edward R. Murrow Award \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2002 \| For his coverage of the capture of the D.C. area sniper \| {{honored}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{Cite web \|last=Farrell \|first=Mike \|date=April 16, 2019 \|title=CNN Tonight's Don Lemon to Host Cable Center Hall of Fame \|website=Multichannel \|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/cnn-tonights-don-lemon-to-host-cable-center-hall-of-fame \|access-date=December 1, 2019 \|archive-date=December 5, 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205062135/https://www.multichannel.com/news/cnn-tonights-don-lemon-to-host-cable-center-hall-of-fame \|url-status=live }}
scope="row" rowspan="2"\| Chicago / Midwest Emmy Awards \| style="text-align:center;", rowspan=2\| 2006 \| For business feature about Craigslist real estate listings, "Life on Craigslist",{{efn\|For Outstanding Achievement within a Regularly Scheduled News Program – Specialty Report: Business/Consumer.}} \| {{won}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite news \|title=CNN Profiles - Don Lemon - Anchor \|publisher=CNN \|url=https://www.cnn.com/profiles/don-lemon-profile \|access-date=December 1, 2019 \|archive-date=December 1, 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201145902/https://www.cnn.com/profiles/don-lemon-profile \|url-status=live }}
Reporting on the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa, "Journey to Africa"{{efn\|For Outstanding Achievement within a Regularly Scheduled News Program – Soft News Feature Series and Outstanding Achievement for Alternate Media/New Media Interactivity}} for WMAQ-TV. \| {{won}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite news \|author=((Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP)) \|date=November 19, 2006 \|title=2005-2006 Emmy Recipients \|publisher=Chicago/Midwest Chapter National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences \|url=https://chicagoemmyonline.org/files/2013/04/2006_emmy_winners.pdf \|access-date=December 1, 2019 \|archive-date=October 20, 2016 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020012059/http://chicagoemmyonline.org/files/2013/04/2006_emmy_winners.pdf }}
scope="row" rowspan="1"\| Ebony Magazine \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2009 \| Voted as one of the 150 most influential African Americans \| {{honored}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite news \|date=April 18, 2009 \|title=CNN NEWSROOM transcript: Rep. Earl Pomeroy Discusses Saberi Conviction in Iran; Justice Department Releases New Details on Bush Administration Terror Policy; 'Ebony' Magazine's Power 150; Maryland Tragedy \|publisher=CNN \|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0904/18/cnr.09.html \|access-date=February 12, 2012 \|archive-date=February 14, 2012 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214224324/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0904/18/cnr.09.html \|url-status=live }}
scope="row" rowspan="1"\| The Advocate \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2014 \| Listed as one of the 50 Most Influential LGBTQ People in Media \| {{honored}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite web \|date=September 16, 2014 \|title=The 50 Most Influential LGBT People in Media \|website=The Advocate \|url=http://www.advocate.com/politics/media/2014/09/16/50-most-influential-lgbt-people-media \|access-date=December 1, 2019 \|archive-date=December 29, 2014 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229213348/http://www.advocate.com/politics/media/2014/09/16/50-most-influential-lgbt-people-media \|url-status=live }}
scope="row" rowspan="1"\| Native Son Award \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2016 \| To "encourage the increased visibility and impact of black gay men in society" \| {{honored}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite web \|last=Rook \|first=Erin \|date=December 4, 2016 \|title=First ever Native Son Awards celebrate Don Lemon and other black gay men \|website=LGBTQ Nation \|url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/12/first-ever-native-son-awards-celebrate-don-lemon-black-gay-men/ \|access-date=December 1, 2019 \|archive-date=December 5, 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205062135/https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/12/first-ever-native-son-awards-celebrate-don-lemon-black-gay-men/ \|url-status=live }}
scope="row" rowspan="1"\| Out Magazine \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2017 \| Named as one of "the most influential LGBTQ people in the USA." \| {{honored}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite web \|last=Blas \|first=Lorena \|date=July 19, 2017 \|title=Who tops the 'Out' Power 50 list of LGBTQ influencers? \|website=USA Today \|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/07/19/outs-power-50-lgbtq-community-leaders/489849001/ \|access-date=December 1, 2019 \|archive-date=December 5, 2019 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205062130/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/07/19/outs-power-50-lgbtq-community-leaders/489849001/ \|url-status=live }}
scope="row" rowspan="1"\| Queerty Magazine \| style="text-align:center;"\| 2019 \| Named him one of the "Pride50" "trailblazing LGBT individuals" \| {{honored}} \| style="text-align:center;"\| {{cite web \|date=June 25, 2019 \|title=Queerty Pride50 2019 Honorees \|website=Queerty \|url=https://www.queerty.com/pride50 \|access-date=August 26, 2019 \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826083204/https://www.queerty.com/pride50 \|archive-date=August 26, 2019}}

class= "wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

! Organizations

! scope="col"| Year

! scope="col"| Notes

! scope="col"| Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{refh}}

scope="row" rowspan="1"| Edward R. Murrow Award

| style="text-align:center;"| 2002

| For his coverage of the capture of the D.C. area sniper

| {{honored}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{Cite web |last=Farrell |first=Mike |date=April 16, 2019 |title=CNN Tonight's Don Lemon to Host Cable Center Hall of Fame |website=Multichannel |url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/cnn-tonights-don-lemon-to-host-cable-center-hall-of-fame |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=December 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205062135/https://www.multichannel.com/news/cnn-tonights-don-lemon-to-host-cable-center-hall-of-fame |url-status=live }}

scope="row" rowspan="2"| Chicago / Midwest Emmy Awards

| style="text-align:center;", rowspan=2| 2006

| For business feature about Craigslist real estate listings, "Life on Craigslist",{{efn|For Outstanding Achievement within a Regularly Scheduled News Program – Specialty Report: Business/Consumer.}}

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite news |title=CNN Profiles - Don Lemon - Anchor |publisher=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/profiles/don-lemon-profile |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201145902/https://www.cnn.com/profiles/don-lemon-profile |url-status=live }}

Reporting on the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa, "Journey to Africa"{{efn|For Outstanding Achievement within a Regularly Scheduled News Program – Soft News Feature Series and Outstanding Achievement for Alternate Media/New Media Interactivity}} for WMAQ-TV.

| {{won}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite news |author=((Virchow, Krause & Company, LLP)) |date=November 19, 2006 |title=2005-2006 Emmy Recipients |publisher=Chicago/Midwest Chapter National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |url=https://chicagoemmyonline.org/files/2013/04/2006_emmy_winners.pdf |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=October 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020012059/http://chicagoemmyonline.org/files/2013/04/2006_emmy_winners.pdf }}

scope="row" rowspan="1"| Ebony Magazine

| style="text-align:center;"| 2009

| Voted as one of the 150 most influential African Americans

| {{honored}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite news |date=April 18, 2009 |title=CNN NEWSROOM transcript: Rep. Earl Pomeroy Discusses Saberi Conviction in Iran; Justice Department Releases New Details on Bush Administration Terror Policy; 'Ebony' Magazine's Power 150; Maryland Tragedy |publisher=CNN |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0904/18/cnr.09.html |access-date=February 12, 2012 |archive-date=February 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214224324/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0904/18/cnr.09.html |url-status=live }}

scope="row" rowspan="1"| The Advocate

| style="text-align:center;"| 2014

| Listed as one of the 50 Most Influential LGBTQ People in Media

| {{honored}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web |date=September 16, 2014 |title=The 50 Most Influential LGBT People in Media |website=The Advocate |url=http://www.advocate.com/politics/media/2014/09/16/50-most-influential-lgbt-people-media |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=December 29, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229213348/http://www.advocate.com/politics/media/2014/09/16/50-most-influential-lgbt-people-media |url-status=live }}

scope="row" rowspan="1"| Native Son Award

| style="text-align:center;"| 2016

| To "encourage the increased visibility and impact of black gay men in society"

| {{honored}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web |last=Rook |first=Erin |date=December 4, 2016 |title=First ever Native Son Awards celebrate Don Lemon and other black gay men |website=LGBTQ Nation |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/12/first-ever-native-son-awards-celebrate-don-lemon-black-gay-men/ |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=December 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205062135/https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/12/first-ever-native-son-awards-celebrate-don-lemon-black-gay-men/ |url-status=live }}

scope="row" rowspan="1"| Out Magazine

| style="text-align:center;"| 2017

| Named as one of "the most influential LGBTQ people in the USA."

| {{honored}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web |last=Blas |first=Lorena |date=July 19, 2017 |title=Who tops the 'Out' Power 50 list of LGBTQ influencers? |website=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/07/19/outs-power-50-lgbtq-community-leaders/489849001/ |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=December 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205062130/https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2017/07/19/outs-power-50-lgbtq-community-leaders/489849001/ |url-status=live }}

scope="row" rowspan="1"| Queerty Magazine

| style="text-align:center;"| 2019

| Named him one of the "Pride50" "trailblazing LGBT individuals"

| {{honored}}

| style="text-align:center;"| {{cite web |date=June 25, 2019 |title=Queerty Pride50 2019 Honorees |website=Queerty |url=https://www.queerty.com/pride50 |access-date=August 26, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826083204/https://www.queerty.com/pride50 |archive-date=August 26, 2019}}

Personal life

Lemon lives in an apartment in Harlem, New York, and has another home in Sag Harbor on Long Island.{{cite news |last=Halberg |first=Morgan |date=January 19, 2018 |title=Don Lemon Offloads Spare Harlem Abode |work=Observer |location=New York City |url=https://observer.com/2017/01/cnn-anchor-don-lemon-sells-harlem-nyc-apartment/ |access-date=November 8, 2018 |archive-date=November 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106003138/https://observer.com/2017/01/cnn-anchor-don-lemon-sells-harlem-nyc-apartment/ |url-status=live }}

In his 2011 memoir, Transparent, Lemon publicly came out as gay—having been out in his personal life and with close colleagues—becoming "one of the few openly gay black men in broadcasting".{{cite web |last=Watts |first=Lawrence |date=September 15, 2011 |title=Interview: Don Lemon, CNN's openly gay anchorman |website=Pink News |language=en-GB |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/09/15/interview-don-lemon-cnns-openly-gay-anchorman/ |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=December 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205062134/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/09/15/interview-don-lemon-cnns-openly-gay-anchorman/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Childry |first=Lawayne |date=November 4, 2015 |title=Get Inspired by This Black Gay Journalist's Triumph |website=The Advocate |url=http://www.advocate.com/books/2015/11/04/get-inspired-black-gay-journalists-triumph |access-date=December 1, 2019 |archive-date=December 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205062157/https://www.advocate.com/books/2015/11/04/get-inspired-black-gay-journalists-triumph |url-status=live }}{{cite news |last=Folkenflik |first=David |date=May 16, 2011 |title=Livelihood 'On The Line', Anchorman Reveals He's Gay |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2011/05/16/136338277/livelihood-on-the-line-anchor-reveals-hes-gay |access-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-date=May 19, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519083813/http://www.npr.org/2011/05/16/136338277/livelihood-on-the-line-anchor-reveals-hes-gay |url-status=live }} He also discussed colorism in the black community and the sexual abuse he suffered as a child.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/business/media/16anchor.html|title=Gay CNN Anchor Sees Risk in Book|last=Carter|first=Bill|date=May 15, 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 1, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=December 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212085616/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/business/media/16anchor.html|url-status=live}} He dedicated the book to Tyler Clementi, a college student who killed himself after his roommate outed him online.{{cite web|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/09/15/interview-don-lemon-cnns-openly-gay-anchorman/|title=Interview: Don Lemon, CNN's openly gay anchorman|last=Watts|first=Lawrence|date=September 15, 2011|website=Pink News|language=en-GB|access-date=December 1, 2019|archive-date=December 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205062134/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/09/15/interview-don-lemon-cnns-openly-gay-anchorman/|url-status=live}}

On January 31, 2018, Lemon's sister, L'Tanya "Leisa" Lemon Grimes, died at the age of 58; police concluded that her death was an accidental drowning in a pond while fishing.{{cite web |url=http://www.newsweek.com/cnn-host-don-lemons-sister-dies-tragic-accidental-pond-drowning-797966 |title=CNN host Don Lemon's sister tragically died in a Louisiana fishing accident |website=Newsweek |date=February 2, 2018 |access-date=February 7, 2018 |archive-date=February 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207015323/http://www.newsweek.com/cnn-host-don-lemons-sister-dies-tragic-accidental-pond-drowning-797966 |url-status=live }} After being absent for approximately a week, he opened his show on February 6 by thanking everyone who wished him "prayers and words of encouragement".{{cite web |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/don-lemon-returns-to-cnn-after-his-sisters-death-your-prayers-have-meant-the-world-to-me/ |title=Don Lemon Returns to CNN After His Sister's Death: Your Prayers Have 'Meant the World to Me' |website=Mediaite.com |date=February 7, 2018 |access-date=February 7, 2018 |archive-date=February 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207122756/https://www.mediaite.com/tv/don-lemon-returns-to-cnn-after-his-sisters-death-your-prayers-have-meant-the-world-to-me/ |url-status=live }}

Lemon met real estate agent Tim Malone in 2016, after which the two began dating.{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/tim-malone-cnn-don-lemon-marry-long-time-partner-1388530|title=Who is Tim Malone? CNN's Don Lemon says he will marry long-time partner|last=Cole|first=Brendan|date=April 8, 2019|website=Newsweek|language=en|access-date=December 2, 2019|archive-date=August 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828000530/https://www.newsweek.com/tim-malone-cnn-don-lemon-marry-long-time-partner-1388530|url-status=live}} The couple married on April 6, 2024, in New York City.{{Cite web |last=Sheeler |first=Jason |date=April 6, 2024 |title= Don Lemon Marries Tim Malone in Chic NYC Wedding Ceremony: 'I Wasn't Sure This Could Ever Happen' (Exclusive) |url=https://people.com/don-lemon-marries-tim-malone-wedding-exclusive-8624572/ |access-date=April 6, 2024 |website=People |language=en-US}}

Published works

{{cite book |last=Lemon |first=Don |year=2011 |title=Transparent |publisher=Farrah Gray Publishing, Inc. |isbn=978-0-9827027-8-9}}
{{cite book | last=Lemon | first=Don | year=2021 | title=This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism | publisher= Little, Brown and Company | isbn=9780316257572}}