By The FirstFormer CNN anchor, Don Lemon, has publicly claimed that his recent firing from the network was a direct result of his refusal to give airtime to ‘liars and bigots’. The statement was made during his first TV appearance since his exit from CNN, in a sit-down interview with ABC24 Memphis.
“I have a responsibility as an American — not only as a journalist — to tell the truth and abide by the promises of the Constitution,” Lemon stated in the candid interview. The 57-year-old broadcast journalist asserted that pursuing the truth, rather than promoting a false sense of balance, is his prime objective.
Lemon emphasized, “We have to stand up for the truth,” and expressed his disapproval of ‘platforming’ individuals he describes as “liars and bigots, insurrectionists and election deniers”. According to him, providing such individuals with the same exposure as those “fighting for what’s right” would amount to a dereliction of journalistic duty.
The news of Lemon’s departure from CNN broke in April when he announced on Twitter that he had been informed by his agent of the termination of his contract. Reports suggest that network executives were irked by a tense on-air exchange between Lemon and Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, leading to his dismissal.
Additionally, Lemon’s tenure at CNN had been marred by a series of controversial on-air statements. One such instance involved a remark regarding Nikki Haley, to which he later apologized, stating that she “isn’t in her prime”. It is believed that such instances contributed to an accumulation of dissatisfaction among the network executives, culminating in Lemon’s departure from the cable news network
