CNN registers ironic complaint about exposé on Don Lemon allegations: 'Relies on anonymous sources'

CNN dismissed a new exposé about Don Lemon's alleged history of misogynistic behavior on grounds that its sources are anonymous.

What are the allegations?

The exposé, published by Variety, details numerous accusations against Lemon, mostly centering on his treatment of women throughout his nearly two-decade career at CNN.

In the late 2000s, Lemon, for example, allegedly resented Kyra Phillips, his former co-host, after she was chosen for a special assignment in Iraq. He allegedly reacted to the news "by tearing up pictures and notes on top of and inside Phillips’ desk in the news pod they shared," according to Variety, before later threatening her using a phone number that investigators later tracked to Lemon. CNN initiated a human resources investigation and later demoted Lemon, the story claimed.

The story also claimed that Lemon once called one his producers "fat," mocked Nancy Grace on air, and questioned whether Soledad O’Brien is black in an editorial meeting after O'Brien was chosen to host CNN's "Black in America" docu-series.

Variety published its exposé less than two months after Lemon was disciplined by CNN executives for suggesting that 51-year-old Nikki Haley is unqualified to run for president because she is past her "prime."

What was the response?

CNN unequivocally defended Lemon.

• Regarding the Phillips incident, a CNN spokesperson told Variety: "Don says the alleged incident never occurred and that he was never notified of any investigation. CNN cannot corroborate the alleged events from 15 years ago."
• Regarding the O'Brien incident, a CNN spokesperson said, "Don, Soledad and others have in the past correctly referred to her Afro-Cuban heritage as it is a unique part of her personal story. But Don denies making any related remark in a derogatory way."

In another statement, a CNN spokesperson downplayed the allegations because they are based on anonymous sources.

"The Variety story provides no actual proof, and instead relies on anonymous sources and unsubstantiated claims from 10 to 15 years ago," the spokesperson told Mediaite. "CNN is unable to corroborate the alleged accounts."

The charges are particularly ironic because many CNN stories rely on anonymous sources to protect the identity of sources who may face reprisals for speaking out. In such cases, newsrooms employ editorial standards to verify what anonymous sources say before publishing their claims. Using anonymous sources, then, is a journalistic norm.

O'Brien, meanwhile, told Variety that she wasn't present at the meeting where Lemon allegedly disparaged her, but she said the claims do not surprise her.

"Don has long had a habit of saying idiotic and inaccurate things, so it sounds pretty on brand for him," O'Brien told Variety.

A spokesperson for Lemon also denied the allegations.

"The story, which is riddled with patently false anecdotes and no concrete evidence, is entirely based on unsourced, unsubstantiated, 15-year-old anonymous gossip," the spokesperson said. "It’s amazing and disappointing that Variety would be so reckless."

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