In a recent episode of Bill Maher’s podcast “Club Random,” journalist Don Lemon reportedly revealed that he experienced sexual harassment from female colleagues during his tenure at CNN.
Lemon, who was let go from the network in April 2023, recounted two specific incidents of harassment while discussing workplace dynamics and harassment in media.
He noted that while harassment can take many forms, not all instances reach the severity of high-profile cases like that of Harvey Weinstein.
One incident Lemon described involved a female coworker who playfully “tweaked” his nipples in the CNN cafeteria while joking about the temperature, a moment he found inappropriate and indicative of a “double standard.”
He contrasted this by stating that if he had done something similar to her, he would have faced immediate repercussions, but ultimately chose not to pursue the matter through human resources (HR).
Lemon also mentioned a second, more peculiar incident involving a female colleague who persistently pursued him at a cocktail party. Despite his repeated rejections of her advances, she continued to press him to stay in a guest room.
Lemon explained that he did not report this incident to HR due to fears of professional ramifications, emphasizing that both instances occurred over a decade ago when he worked in CNN’s Atlanta office.
Reflecting on these experiences, Lemon shared his childhood history of molestation as a backdrop to why he didn’t report such incidents.
He expressed his belief in his own ability to handle unwanted advances without needing to escalate the situation professionally, opting instead for direct communication about his disinterest.
CNN declined to comment on Lemon’s allegations following his remarks.
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