Don Lemon Discusses Workplace Harassment Experiences at CNN

During a recent interview on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, journalist Don Lemon opened up about his experiences with workplace harassment throughout his 17-year tenure at CNN. Lemon revealed that he encountered inappropriate behavior from both female and male colleagues.

Instances of Harassment

Reflecting on his experiences, Lemon stated, “I have been harassed by women and men in the workplace. And some things are not even…it’s ridiculous.” He emphasized that while he recognized the severity of certain harassment cases, he did not equate his experiences to the most extreme examples, clarifying, “Now look, there are some things that are really egregious, but not everything is Harvey Weinstein-level.”

Specific Incidents

Without disclosing names, Lemon recounted a particularly surprising incident involving a female coworker who, in a cafeteria setting, made an inappropriate gesture toward him. He described how she “tweaked” his nipples, adding humorously that her excuse was, “‘Oh, it’s cold in here!'” Lemon remarked, “I said, ‘OK, you realize if I did that they’d be walking me out the door right now?'” He chose not to report the incident to human resources, acknowledging a perceived double standard in workplace behavior.

In another instance from his early days at CNN, Lemon shared an experience of harassment by a female colleague who was aware of his sexual orientation. He described the interaction as “bizarre,” indicating that it occurred during a time when she was dealing with personal issues, such as a divorce. He expressed regret for not addressing the situation, feeling that management might not have believed him: “I thought, like, OK, they may find a way to get rid of me.”

Social Dynamics in the Workplace

Lemon elaborated on the context of these incidents, noting the culture at CNN during his early years there, which included a number of social gatherings where such behaviors could occur. He noted, “There’s a lot of cocktail parties,” describing the logistical challenges of transportation in Atlanta before ride-sharing services like Uber became widely available. He recounted situations where intoxication blurred lines, leading to uncomfortable invitations to stay over rather than go home.

Concluding Thoughts

While discussing these instances, Lemon made it clear that both women and men could perpetrate harassment, emphasizing the need for awareness and a uniform approach to addressing inappropriate behaviors in the workplace. CNN did not provide a comment when approached for response.