Don Lemon Calls “False” Report of His “Volatile” Misogynistic Behavior “15-Year-Old Anonymous Gossip”

Don Lemon is unfazed by Variety‘s bombshell report published on Wednesday (April 5) detailing his “volatile” misogynistic behavior. The article contained serious allegations against the CNN anchor that were supported by over a dozen of his former and current colleagues; however, Lemon is denying all of the accusations — but should he be?

According to Yahoo! Entertainment, the anchor is claiming that the story is filled with “patently false anecdotes” and contains “no concrete evidence.” In a statement, a spokesperson for Lemon said that the report “is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip.” 

They continued, “It’s amazing and disappointing that Variety would be so reckless.”

Additionally, CNN responded to Yahoo with statements in response to specific allegations made against Lemon in Variety‘s feature. 

In the Variety article, sources alleged that Lemon had an ongoing beef with his former co-anchor Kyra Phillips, and at one point, sent her threatening texts while she was on an assignment in Iraq that he wanted for himself. She reportedly received a text message which read, “Now you’ve crossed the line, and you’re going to pay for it.” 

Sources claim that the texts were traced back to Lemon, but the network chose to demote Lemon rather than formally announce their findings. They also alleged that he raided Phillips’ desk and tore apart her notes and belongings.

CNN responded to these accusations, writing, “Don says the incident never occurred and that he was never notified of any investigation. CNN cannot corroborate the alleged events from 15 years ago.”

In another section of the article, former CNN consultant Goldie Taylor said, “I’m never surprised when Don gets in trouble. It makes me neither happy nor sad to see him undermine his own success.” In the past, she claimed to have been blacklisted by the network after critiquing one of Lemon’s reports. 

Taylor continued, “There was a time when it appeared that Black people were most often the subject of his ire. Now, it seems to me that when he says something offensive, there’s almost always a woman on the other side.” 

A CNN representative told Yahoo, “I’m not going to weigh in on the network’s booking practices of unpaid guests a decade ago.”

The network also excused allegations which suggested that Lemon gave Jussie Smollett a heads up that police doubted his story about being the victim of a hate attack, claiming that it was part of his investigative journalism.

“CNN reviewed the incident in question at the time and found that any interaction was an act of journalism as Don was attempting to prompt a response from Mr. Smollett and book him for his show,” the spokesperson said. 

One of the most telling responses from the network is included in Variety‘s original article in the section about broadcaster Soledad O’Brien, whom Lemon allegedly bad-mouthed during an editorial call with roughly 30 employees.

Two witnesses reported that Lemon was offended that he wasn’t “front and center” of the “high-profile” documentary project Black in America, and in retaliation, suggested that O’Brien isn’t Black. 

O’Brien responded to the allegations, stating, “Don has long had a habit of saying idiotic and inaccurate things, so it sounds pretty on brand for him.” She also retweeted Variety’s report onto her profile, in support. 

But a CNN spokesperson denied the claim, stating, “Don, Soledad and others have in the past correctly referred to her Afro-Cuban heritage as it is a unique part of her personal story. But Don denies making any related remark in a derogatory way.” 

These allegations came after Lemon was benched from his regular talk show CNN This Morning for making sexist comments towards Republican presidential candidate Nikki Hayley. He returned in February after completing “formal training” by the network.

Perhaps CNN should sit this one out.