Don Lemon is an American television journalist best known for his prominent role as a prime-time host on CNN for nearly a decade. His career, marked by both significant accolades and public controversy, established him as a recognizable and often polarizing figure in cable news until his departure from the network in 2023. Born Don Renaldo Lemon-Clark on March 1, 1966, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, his early path led him to broadcast journalism, where he would build a substantial body of work across local and national platforms.

Lemon began his career anchoring weekend news programs for local television stations in Alabama and Pennsylvania, honing his skills as a reporter and presenter. His work eventually led him to NBC News, where he served as a correspondent for flagship programs like Today and NBC Nightly News. His reporting during this period earned him professional recognition, most notably an Edward R. Murrow Award in 2002 for his coverage of the Washington, D.C. sniper attacks. He also received three regional Emmy Awards for special reports on Chicago real estate and a business feature on Craigslist.

In 2006, Lemon joined CNN as a correspondent, contributing reports across the network's programming. His profile rose significantly in 2014 when he was given his own evening program, Don Lemon Tonight. The show became a platform for Lemon's direct, sometimes combative interviewing style and his commentary on social and political issues, including race relations and LGBTQ+ rights, as he publicly came out as gay in his 2011 memoir. The program anchored CNN's late-night lineup for eight years, making Lemon one of the network's most identifiable personalities.

In late 2022, as part of a major programming shift at CNN, Lemon was moved from his prime-time slot to become a co-host of the newly launched CNN This Morning, alongside Kaitlan Collins and Poppy Harlow. The show's launch was rocky, and Lemon faced criticism for on-air comments, including remarks about Nikki Haley's age that were widely perceived as sexist. In April 2023, CNN announced it had terminated its contract with Lemon, stating he had been fired. The journalist disputed the characterization, asserting he was informed of the decision by his agent without a proper conversation with network management. Following his exit, Lemon launched a new solo program, "The Don Lemon Show," via the social media platform X in 2024, aiming to continue his career in digital media.