Don Lemon is back.
Some nine months after being fired from CNN amid allegations of misogyny and on- and off-air scandals, the primetime-turned-morning show anchor is reemerging with a new independent venture.
On Wednesday’s show, Megyn was joined by the hosts of Ruthless – Josh Holmes, Comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan, and John Ashbrook – to discuss Lemon’s return to the media and why they are “not rooting for him.”
Don Lemon Returns
Last April, Lemon was let go from CNN after 17 years at the network on the same day Fox News’ shockingly announced it was parting ways with Tucker Carlson.
At the time, the then-CNN This Morning co-host tweeted he was “stunned” to learn of his termination. “After 17 years at CNN, I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly,” he wrote in part. “At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at the network.” The beleaguered cable network denied Lemon’s version of events.
The departure came on the heels of Lemon making headlines for all the wrong reasons. He made controversial comments about Nikki Haley and women over 50 not being in their “prime,” he reportedly belittled colleagues Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow on and off camera, he sparred with GOP hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, and rumors swirled that White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre even refused to be interviewed by him.
Lemon has largely stayed out of the spotlight since, but he reemerged on Tuesday to announce his new venture. “I’ve heard you… and today I am back bigger, bolder, and freer,” he posted in a statement on X. “My new media company’s first project is The Don Lemon Show.”
The self-titled newscast will “be available to everyone, easily, whenever and wherever you want it, streaming on the platforms where the conversations are happening,” Lemon wrote. “And you’ll find it first on X, the biggest space for free speech in the world.”
He went on to say that “now more than ever” there needs to be “a place for honest debate and discussion without the hall monitors.” Lemon also promised that “this is just the beginning” of what he has in store.
‘Believe Him’
Megyn, for one, is not anxiously awaiting Lemon’s new program. “I realize that the magnanimous move is to say, ‘Good for Don. He got canceled off of CNN, and now he’s reinventing himself on Twitter,’” she said. “Well, that’s not what I say. I think he’s disgusting, he hates America, he hates Republicans, and I’m not looking forward to his voice reemerging other than to mock it, which I 100 percent plan to do.”
In her view, people have forgotten what caused Lemon to be forced off the air to begin with. She proceeded to play a montage of some of his ‘greatest hits,’ which include the time he called “white men” the “biggest terrorist threat” in the United States and Trump supporters Nazis and Klan members. He also suggested those who did not get the COVID-19 vaccine should be denied medical care.
While some may like to think Lemon has, in Megyn’s words, “seen the light” and can “come back more fair and balanced,” she is not so sure. “He’s shown us who he is – believe him,” Megyn said. “Don Lemon truly hates the right half of the country… and would love to see almost all of them canceled who voted for Trump.”
For these reasons, she will not be “rooting for him in any way, shape, or form.” “I’m not saying he should never be allowed to speak again,” Megyn concluded. “I’m just saying I don’t have to personally cheerlead it, or think it’s a good thing, or recognize that this is like some sort of important voice in the conversation.”
You can check out Megyn’s full interview with Ruthless by tuning in to episode 700 on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you like to listen. And don’t forget that you can catch The Megyn Kelly Show live on SiriusXM’s Triumph (channel 111) weekdays from 12pm to 2pm ET.