A spokesperson for the 57-year-old CNN anchor addresses the story published on Variety in which he is accused of exhibiting 'troubling treatment of women and unprofessional antics' for years.
- Apr 6, 2023
AceShowbiz - Don Lemon has spoken against claims that he exhibited "troubling treatment of women and unprofessional antics" for nearly two decades. The spokesperson for the 57-year-old CNN anchor stresses that the story published on Variety on Wednesday, April 5 was "patently false."
"The story, which is riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete evidence, is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip," the spokesperson tells Entertainment Tonight. "It's amazing and disappointing that Variety would be so reckless."
A CNN spokesperson, meanwhile, adds, "The Variety story provides no actual proof, and instead relies on anonymous sources and unsubstantiated claims from 10 to 15 years ago. CNN is unable to corroborate the alleged accounts."
In the Variety story, the news outlet mentioned an accident which took place when Don was co-hosting "Live From with Kyra Phillips" back in 2008. It was said that Don had to be pulled off-air because of "provocative antics," including calling one of his producers fat to her face. A source also claimed that Don "mocked" Nancy Grace on-air by mimicking her. Nancy refused to comment on the matter.
Don also allegedly suggested that Soledad O'Brien isn't black when she was named the host of CNN's "Black in America" docuseries. "Don has long had a habit of saying idiotic and inaccurate things, so it sounds pretty on brand for him," Soledad, who wasn't present for the alleged comment, told the outlet.
In response to the accusations, the CNN spokesperson notes, "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."
Not stopping there, the story said that Don's "antipathy toward Phillips was particularly concerning." When Kyra landed an assignment in Iraq over him, Don allegedly expressed his disappointment "by tearing up pictures and notes on top of and inside Phillips' desk in the news pod they shared."
It was also said that Kyra received two threatening text messages upon returning from her coverage. One of the messages read, "Now you've crossed the line, and you're going to pay for it." The messages were traced back to Don and it led to him being demoted to a weekend anchor role.
"Don says the alleged incident never occurred and that he was never notified of any investigation. CNN cannot corroborate the alleged events from 15 years ago," the network responded. Meanwhile, Kyra declined to comment.
Citing more than a dozen of Don's former and current colleagues, the outlet went on to allege that throughout his career, Don has "flouted rules and cozied up to power all while displaying open hostility to many female co-workers" and has long "appeared to charm his way out of facing any meaningful consequences." The outlet additionally called out Don for exhibiting "diva-like behavior."
