Don Lemon sent the internet into a frenzy, and now he’s trying to set the record straight.
Ahead of Friday’s edition of his weeknight CNN show, Lemon shared a video on Twitter teasing “a big announcement,” adding, “I hope you’re ok with it.”
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In the video, in which he walks on a treadmill, Lemon explains he’ll be making “an announcement about the show,” hinting it will mark “the end of an era.”
Another @CNNTonight exclusive. I have a big announcement. I hope you’re ok with it. See you at 10pE. #CNN pic.twitter.com/YlvNjuN5ea
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) May 15, 2021
At the end of Friday’s show, Lemon declared, “It’s been really, really great. This is the last night that will be ‘CNN Tonight With Don Lemon’. So, I appreciate all the years of ‘CNN Tonight With Don Lemon’, but changes are coming, and I will fill you in.”
He encouraged viewers to “tune in” on Monday to find out what those changes would be.
Don Lemon just announced that tonight will be his last show on CNN 👀. pic.twitter.com/G5XSGY4TwI
— Teresa AnnMarie (@TeresaFreeThink) May 15, 2021
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As soon as the show ended, viewers took to social media to share their thoughts about him leaving CNN.
Don Lemon is leaving CNN. He was my favorite anchor because he never held back. Loved his bold opinions. Legend!
— Uncovering The Truth (@UncvrngTheTruth) May 15, 2021
THIS JUST IN—Don Lemon just announced that tonight will be his last show on CNN.
Say your goodbye below 👋 pic.twitter.com/4DWGuqsDf6
— White Rabbit News ❼ (@WhiteRabbitNN) May 15, 2021
WTF? Out of nowhere Don Lemon has announced the end of his CNN program https://t.co/vSsLeRxVKY
— chris evans (@chris_notcapn) May 15, 2021
A half-hour after the end of the show, Lemon returned to Twitter to calm everyone down, explaining he’s “not leaving CNN” but that there would be a “handoff” on Monday, and he’d be explaining it all then.
Hey everyone. Not what you think. I’m not leaving CNN. Tune in for the handoff on Monday at 10pE and I’ll explain. pic.twitter.com/oOwDferY2i
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) May 15, 2021
On Saturday, Lemon issued one more tweet to offer a full explanation: he wasn’t leaving CNN, nor was his show being cancelled, but will be rebranded as “Don Lemon Tonight”.
Didn’t mean to set the internet on fire. What I said last night was true. CNN Tonight with Don Lemon is no more. I’ll be back on Monday with my newly named show Don Lemon Tonight. See you Monday at 10pE. pic.twitter.com/89GFXULV9m
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) May 15, 2021