More than a dozen former and current colleagues of CNNâs Don Lemon are speaking out about his behavior at the network.
Variety published a story on Lemon and his alleged troubling behavior at CNN, including his attitude toward women and willingness to bend the rules.
At one point during Lemonâs career, he began openly dating a staffer that had just graduated college despite the 19-year age difference.
Variety noted dating a junior employee was not looked highly upon at the time of their relationship.
âAs fast as you could make a rule, Don would bend it,â one senior executive said.
Several sources explained how Lemonâs misogynistic behavior was more troubling.
Lemon allegedly called one of his producers fat to her face, per Variety.
He also mocked colleague Nancy Grace on air by mimicking her, leaving other colleagues stunned.
An individual close to Grace told Variety âshe thinks heâs an assâ and he was always ârude, dismissive and really unfamiliar with the content being discussed.â
A witness to the matter involving Grace added, âThat was the beginning of when you knew that Don was kind of volatile and didnât say good things about women.â
In another instance, Lemon expressed his frustration with the opportunity Soledad OâBrien was given to host CNNâs âBlack in Americaâ docuseries.
Lemon suggested OâBrien was not Black during a call with approximately 30 staffers, as Variety reported.
âDon always wanted to be front and center on anything high profile, especially anything involving race,â a colleague said.
OâBrien told the outlet, âDon has long had a habit of saying idiotic and inaccurate things, so it sounds pretty on brand for him.â
A CNN spokesperson commented on the matter, saying, âDon, 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.â
Additionally, Lemon apparently showed âdiva-likeâ behavior.
He reportedly skipped out on editorial calls, arrived late at the newsroom or showed disengaged behavior.
After the network covered the Michael Jackson memorial, Lemon complained about Anderson Cooperâs airtime.
âThat led to a come-to-Jesus moment,â another senior executive from the time said.
The executive added, âDon was told, âLook, youâve got to address your behavior. Your performance as a reporter is great. Itâs your behavior thatâs gotta improve. Itâs whatâs going to derail you if youâre not careful.ââ
Goldie Taylor, a former CNN consultant, has remained adamant about her criticism of Lemon despite being backlisted at the network over her remarks.
âIâm never surprised when Don gets in trouble,â she told the outlet.
Taylor continued, âIt makes me neither happy nor sad to see him undermine his own success. 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, thereâs almost always a woman on the other side.â
The report comes just a month after Lemon landed himself in hot water after suggesting Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley is past her prime, as IJR reported.
