Early Life
Don Lemon was born on March 1, 1966, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Katherine Marie (Bouligney) and Wilmon Lee Richardson.
Lemon's father was a prominent attorney who successfully challenged racial segregation of public transportation in Baton Rouge.
Education
Lemon attended Baker High School, where he was voted class president during his senior year.
He later graduated from Brooklyn College with a major in broadcast journalism in 1996 at the age of 30.
Career
Lemon began his career as a weekend news anchor for WBRC in Birmingham, Alabama, and WCAU in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He worked as an anchor and investigative reporter for Fox affiliate KTVI in St. Louis, Missouri, and Fox's Chicago affiliate.
CNN Career
Lemon joined CNN in September 2006 and became a prominent host of the network, anchoring various programs including Don Lemon Tonight and CNN This Morning.
He was known for his outspoken criticism of Donald Trump and his coverage of major news events.
Controversies and Firing
Lemon faced several controversies during his career, including allegations of misogyny and unethical journalism in the Jussie Smollett case.
He was fired from CNN in April 2023 after a report alleged he had a history of misogynistic behavior towards his colleagues.
Personal Life
Lemon publicly came out as gay in his 2011 memoir, Transparent, and has been open about his personal life and experiences with racism and colorism.
He married real estate agent Tim Malone on April 6, 2024, in New York City.
Published Works
Lemon has written two books: Transparent (2011) and This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism (2021).
His memoir, Transparent, details his experiences with racism and colorism in the black community.