Don Lemon Critiques Megyn Kelly
Don Lemon took aim at his former CNN colleague Megyn Kelly on Friday, accusing her of crafting a career by capitalizing on his anger, while labeling her a “troll and racist.”
During an appearance on “The Mixed Signals of Semafor Media,” Lemon pointed out how Kelly has consistently criticized corporate media for their handling of former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, transforming this into a viral podcast moment. He suggested that Kelly has carved out a lucrative niche by engaging in daily confrontations with public figures, fostering a culture of outrage.
“Conservatives really seized the streaming space early on,” Lemon noted. “Megyn Kelly has essentially made a business out of it, but that’s not the direction I want to take.” He acknowledged that initially, he dismissed Kelly’s comments, but her persistent jabs eventually compelled him to respond, describing her approach as “rude.”
“I ignored her for a long time because that was her goal. But eventually, it got to me. Her remarks felt harsh, and they weren’t true, so I chose not to engage,” he explained.
Lemon said that while he doesn’t want to continue the conflict, he felt a need to defend himself.
“People send me her comments, but I wasn’t going to stoop to her level. Engaging with her would be like lying down with dogs and waking up with fleas. However, I finally felt the need to call her out for her misogyny and trolling,” he shared. “I suspect she even thought, ‘Hey, Megyn Kelly just mentioned this guy. Do you want to cover it?’ I’m certain that crossed her mind at least initially.”
However, Lemon’s comments weren’t solely about Kelly. He also addressed his previous colleague Chris Cuomo, who suggested that their on-screen rapport was staged and that Jeff Zucker pressured him to control what he said while on Lemon’s show. Lemon dismissed that perspective.
“Jeff and I are friends; we talk regularly. It wouldn’t make sense for him to come on my show under those conditions,” Lemon remarked.
Lemon firmly rejected Cuomo’s narrative, stating that he had complete control over his program and that their segments were his original concept. He believed their chemistry worked because viewers enjoyed their unscripted banter before transitioning to more serious topics.
“If the roles were reversed, that would make sense, but I was the one saying goodbye to Chris,” he clarified. “He could manage his exit, but I couldn’t be confined by what I wanted to express on my own show, and that’s crucial to understand.”
Ultimately, Lemon emphasized that the segments were his idea, independent of Zucker’s influence. He felt their improvised exchanges added a unique flavor to the show.
