Don Lemon is a news anchor on CNN who is known for his controversial statements and TV gaffs as well as his hard hitting journalism. He is currently the host of CNN Tonight. He has been with CNN since 2006 and is a veteran news correspondent and anchor. Although he is a familiar sight on American Network News TV not a lot is known about the dashing and suave TV frontman Don Lemon. Here are 5 things you didn’t know about Don Lemon.
1. Don Lemon is openly gay
He came out as gay in 2011 in his biography Transparent. Lemon has been very vocal about homophobia and admitted that he was initially reluctant to come out for fear of losing viewers. He is currently in a relationship with the hunky Tim Malone. The two are often seen at gala’s and TV parties. Lemon has posted cute photos of the couple on his social media feed since the two started dating last year. There are rumors that the couple intend to make it official and tie the knot soon.
2. He got into hot water for his statements about Black Americans
Despite being voted one of the most influential African Americans by Ebony magazine in 2009, in 2013 he faced a huge backlash for his statements about African American men. He took side, surprisingly, with Right Wing Fox News host the disgraced Bill O’Reilly. O’Reilly placed the blame on Hip Hop culture and Black men for all the ills that have been endured by the community. Lemon said that Black men needed to stop wearing baggy pants, littering in their own communities, dropping out of high school, using the taboo n-word and having children outside of wedlock. Critics slammed him for taking a narrow view of what constitutes respectability and imposing his narrow view on others. Lemon defended himself saying that he’d been taught to dress nicely, speak nicely and show some self-respect as a young child.
3. He has an Emmy.
Lemon received an Emmy award for his special report which explored and exposed the Chicago real estate market. In 2006 he received three further local Emmy awards for his work on the AIDS epidemic and work in Africa.
4. He was abused as a child.
Lemon sensationally revealed live on air in 2010 that he had been molested as a young child. The shocking revelation was during a segment in which he was covering the Georgia bishop Eddie Long, who was been accused of sexually abusing young men in his congregation. Lemon said that he was sharing with viewers something that he’d not shared before, that he had been the victim of a paedophile as a child. He had kept the secret and not even told his mother for thirty years. After his revelation Lemon admitted that he’d not planned to make the disclosure at the time.
5. Don Lemon serves on the Board of Trustees at Brooklyn College
As a student he majored in broadcast journalism at the prestigious Brooklyn College in New York. He also attended Louisiana State University. As a well-known successful news anchor and correspondent he’s had a n opportunity to give back to his Alma Mater and he now serves on the Board of Trustees.
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