Don Lemon Bio | Wiki
Don Lemon (Full name: Donald Carlton Lemon) is an American tv journalist. He hosted his own show called Don Lemon Tonight on CNN until April 24, 2023, when he parted ways with CNN. During his early days as a journalist, Don anchored weekend news programs on local television stations in Alabama and Pennsylvania.
From there, he went to work as a news correspondent for NBC on its programming including NBC Nightly News and Today. After leaving NBC, Don went to work for CNN. He became part of CNN’s news team and also as a correspondent in 2006. Later, Don achieved prominence after he was made the presenter of CNN Tonight in 2014. He won an Edward R. Murrow Award and also holds three regional Emmy Awards.
During an on-air discussion in October 2018 about the migrant caravan, Don received criticism from conservatives after he stated what was regarded as hate speech. It was announced in May 2021, that Don, along with his CNN fellow journalist called Chris Cuomo, would launch a podcast named “The Handoff”.
Don Lemon Age
He was born on March 1, 1966, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America. Don is 57 years old.
Don Lemon Height
He is a man of average stature. Don stands at a height of 5 ft 8 in (Approx 1.73 m).
Don Lemon Family
He was born to his parents Katherine Marie (Bouligney) and Wilmon Lee Richardson in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America. His father Lee is a former prominent attorney. He and his team challenged the segregation of public transportation in Baton Rouge.
Before marrying Wilmon, Katherine was married to another man. Don discovered that Wilmon Lee was his father at the age of 5. Don holds American nationality by birth but belongs to African-American ancestry. His maternal grandmother was born to a black mother and a white father with French and Scots-Irish ancestry.
Don Lemon Siblings
He grew up with two older sisters L’Tanya and Yma Lemon. In 2018, he lost his older sister L’Tanya Lemon Grimes aka “Leisha” in a fishing excursion in Denham Springs, La. She reportedly tripped and fell into the neighborhood pond, accidentally drowning.
Don Lemon First Wife | Married To Stephanie Ortiz
He was married to Stephanie Ortiz, his first wife in 2009. Stephanie serves as a real estate agent and is a New York native. Don and his first wife dated for quite some time before they got married. However, their marriage was full of challenges as Don had struggles with substance abuse and alcoholism. In addition, Don admitted to cheating on his wife during their marriage in his memoir called “Transparent”. As a result, the marriage ended in a divorce. The two finalized the divorce process in 2010.
He currently lives in an apartment in Harlem but has another home in Sag Harbor on Long Island, New York. In September 2010, Don had an on-air interview with members of Bishop Eddie Long’s congregation. He discussed being sexually molested by a neighbor teenage boy at around 5 or 6 years of age. The molestation continued until Don was thirteen when he decided to tell his mother about it.
Don Lemon Husband | Spouse | Partner
He married his gay partner called Tim Malone. Currently, Tim works as a real estate agent. The couple met each other for the first time in 2017 and shortly after, they began dating. Don and Tim announced their engagement ceremony in April 2019.
Don Lemon Education
He joined Louisiana State University and later graduated from Brooklyn College in 1996. In college, Don majored in broadcast journalism. He interned at WNYW while still at Brooklyn College.
Don Lemon CNN
He began his journalism career by serving as a reporter and weekend news anchor for WBRC based in Birmingham, Alabama. Also, Don worked for WCAU in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He served as an anchor and investigative reporter for KTVI based in St. Louis, Missouri. Don reported for NBC News’s New York City operations and also worked as a correspondent for both Today and NBC Nightly News.
He served as an anchor on Weekend Today and programs on MSNBC. In 2003, he started working at NBC-owned and operated station WMAQ-TV 5 based in Chicago. There, Don was a reporter and local news co-anchor. While at WMAQ, he won three Emmys for local reporting. Don became part of the CNN network in September 2006.
His work of criticizing the state of cable news and questioning the network publicly at CNN made him become an outspoken journalist. Don voiced strong opinions on how the African-American community can improve their lives. Those opinions caused some controversy. He served as the co-host of CNN’s New Year’s Eve special from New Orleans with Brooke Baldwin from 2014 to 2023. In addition, Don co-anchored “CNN This Morning” along with Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow. CNN This Morning has been on air for almost six months.
In January 2018, in a much-reported broadcast, Don introduced his broadcast with the statement “This is CNN Tonight, I’m Don Lemon. The president of the United States is racist.” His outspoken criticism of former US President Donald Trump’s administration, as well as accusations of racism against Trump, has made Don a target of Trump.
Don’s colleagues at CNN included:
Julian Zelizer – comentator
Coy Wire – anchor
Nick Valencia – correspondent
Eleni Giokos – anchor
Ben Wedeman – correspondent
Jennifer Westhoven – correspondent
Sandra Gonzalez – reporter
Irin Carmon – correspondent
Ryan Lizza – correspondent
Don Lemon Now | Fired
Don had been working for CNN from 2006 when he became part of the network’s news team until April 24, 2023. He was fired from CNN on April 24, 2023. Don’s contract was supposed to expire in 2026. The New York Times reported that CNN had a difficult time booking guests who were willing to appear on-air with Don. In addition, it was evident that his popularity among viewers had decreased. However, Don said that the firing was a surprise and that CNN had not informed him in person, which the network contradicted.
Don Lemon Book
In his 2011 memoir, Transparent, Don publicly came out as gay. He had been out in his personal life and with his close workmates. His Gau declaration made him one of the few openly gay black men in broadcasting. Don talked about colorism in the black community as well as the sexual abuse he suffered while growing up.
His book was dedicated to Tyler Clementi, a college student who committed suicide after his roommate outed him online. Also, he stated that he has known about his sexuality as young as five or six years. In October 2017, Don received death threats laced with racial slurs. He later filed a police report that detailed the incident.
Don Lemon Tonight
At the end of the edition of CNN Tonight with Don Lemon on May 14, 2021, the host announced: “So, earlier I told you I had an announcement, and I do. It’s been really, really great. This is the last night that we’ll be on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon. So I appreciate all the years of CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, but changes are coming, and I will fill you in”. The following morning, Don apologized for “setting fire to” the internet. He also tweeted that his show would be renamed Don Lemon Tonight, beginning the following Monday.
Don Lemon Real Name
He was born Donald Carlton Lemon to his parents Katherine Marie (Bouligney) and Wilmon Lee Richardson in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA. However, he commonly uses “Don Lemon” professionally.
Don Lemon Salary
He earned his income from his role as the host of his own show called Don Lemon Tonight on CNN. Don earned an average salary of $4 million per year.
Don Lemon Net Worth
Most of his wealth has been accumulated from his journalism career. Don has an estimated net worth of $12 million.
What Happened To Don Lemon CNN Tonight
He was fired from CNN on Monday, April 24, 2023. Don’s contract with CNN was supposed to end in 2026. However, due to declination in viewers and CNN having a difficult time booking guests who were willing to appear on-air with Don, the network decided to terminate his contract.
How Old Is Don Lemon
Don is a 57-year-old American journalist who was born on March 1, 1966, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America.
Is Don Lemon On CNN
Don’s last day working with CNN was on Monday, April 24, 2023, as he was fired by the network.