CNN anchor Don Lemon has spoken about being subjected to “disgusting” racist and homophobic slurs by Trump supporters.
Speaking to Chris Cuomo on Saturday (November 7) hours after the Presidential race was called for Joe Biden, Lemon spoke emotionally about the pivotal result, which he actually missed while sleeping between gruelling shifts pitching in on the channel’s election coverage.
He explained: “I am staying in a hotel because of these crazy hours. I’m on the 44th floor, and I heard people cheering 44 floors below me. I woke up, opened the drapes, and I could see New York City around me cheering.
“I turn the television on and there were my colleagues, announcing that Joe Biden had become the president elect of the United States, and not to forget Kamala Harris, the first black woman vice president.
“I didn’t expect to be so overwhelmed by that. I didn’t realize the PTSD that many marginalized people — that African-Americans, women, Latinos, people of colour — are feeling around this country, because we have had whiplash from someone who only cares about himself and not uniting people.”
Don Lemon calls out ‘disgusting’ racist and homophobic abuse.
He reflected: “What has happened in this country… people yelling at us on the street and people calling me [N-word] and f*g and all kinds of things, and ‘you’re fake news’ and all of that.
“I’ve been in this business since 1991, and never before have I ever had to deal with the crap that I’ve had to deal with over the last four years. It is disgusting.”
Lemon continued: “America needed a release valve [after the election], and they wanted to get it off their chests. It was like a third world country, people who have been oppressed.
“Finally, the relief came that no longer do we have to live under this oppression, no longer that we have to live under people who pretend that up is not up, and down is not down, that one plus one doesn’t equal two. And so, I can’t help but be emotional at this moment.”
‘I don’t care if people think I’m biased’, emotional anchor says.
Don Lemon continued: “The entire theme [of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ victory speeches] was, ‘Everyone is welcome under this tent, we don’t care who you are. We don’t care if you voted for us or not. You’re all part of this American experiment.’
“I was so overwhelmed to hear that. I don’t care what people think if they think I’m biased or not.
“I don’t care because I’m not a Democrat, I’m not a Republican, I’m not a conservative, I’m not a liberal… I am an American, and we all deserve to be able to live in this country, and have respect.
Addressing his job on CNN, Lemon added: “I am so happy to have this platform to be able to do this. I may not have it after this, but I really don’t care.
“I am so happy to live in a country that has an administration that is going to go in — regardless, I’m going to challenge them on their policies, I’m going to hold them to account.
“But when you say we’re all welcome and we’re all equal in this country. Amen. I’m in on that.”