Don Lemon Ascribes New Memoir To Women After Backlash For 'Misogyny'

Don Lemon is taking control of the narrative with his new memoir, addressing the allegations of misogyny that once clouded his career.

The former CNN anchor dedicates his new book to the influential women in his life, offering a personal response to the controversy. In April 2023, Lemon stood firm after accusations of misogyny in the workplace, calling out the inaccuracies in the reports.

With his new memoir, Don Lemon seeks to set the record straight and shift the focus back to his truth.

In an exclusive interview about his memoir "I Once Was Lost," Lemon discusses his readiness to reclaim his narrative.

The TV personality, who was abruptly ousted from CNN in 2023 after 17 years, addressed the fallout from his controversial comments about Republican politician Nikki Haley, which led to accusations of misogyny and sexism.

The 58-year-old emphasized that women were at the top of his mind as he penned the memoir, particularly those who stood by him through the controversy. In his words:

"All of these women who have held me in their bosom and comforted me and have always had my back. I wanted to make sure that they understood that I love them and that all the stuff that they were reading about me was not true. I wasn't some anti-woman thing. The exact opposite, as a matter of fact."

Speaking to PEOPLE, Lemon also highlighted the close bonds he shared with women throughout his life, especially Black women, who have been his most ardent supporters. He emphatically stated:

"I wanted to make sure that the people who had supported me the most, which is women, especially Black women, knew that I had their backs." 

Before addressing the accusations of misogyny in his memoir, Lemon had already vehemently denied the claims last year. In April 2023, a report from The Blast detailed Lemon's rebuttal to an exposé published by Variety.

The Variety article titled "Don Lemon's Misogyny at CNN, Exposed: Malicious Texts, Mocking Female Co-Workers and 'Diva-Like Behavior'" accused him of engaging in sexist conduct throughout his career at the network, dating back to 2006.

In a surprising twist, a spokesperson for the TV personality swiftly shut down the claims, calling the report "patently false" and accusing Variety of irresponsible journalism.

"The story is riddled with patently false anecdotes and lacks concrete evidence, relying solely on unsourced and unsubstantiated 15-year-old anonymous gossip," the spokesperson shared.

Apart from the comments Variety's exposé claims Lemon made, the outlet also alleged that he displayed outrage when his former co-host Kyra Phillips was sent to Iraq instead of him.

According to the report, Lemon allegedly tore up pictures and notes on Phillips's desk and sent her threatening texts from an unknown number, which were traced back to him through a CNN investigation. However, both Lemon and CNN doubted the validity of these claims.

In a statement to Yahoo, a CNN spokesperson revealed that the network could not verify the events' accuracy. For his part, Lemon denied that the incident occurred, adding that the network never informed him of any such investigation.

The misogyny allegations are just one of the challenges Lemon has encountered. Last month, The Blast reported that the TV star took legal action against Musk and the social media platform. 

In a lawsuit filed in San Francisco,  Lemon reportedly accused them of exploiting him to boost their advertising while abandoning their agreement and damaging his reputation.

Lemon's attorney, Carney Shegerian, described the case as clear-cut, declaring, "You don't have to be a genius to see the fraud, negligence, and reputational damage here."

Shegerian also emphasized Lemon's dedication to defending his reputation and holding X accountable, adding, "We look forward to our day in court."

The journalist was to relaunch his career with "The Don Lemon Show" on X. However, in his court filing, he alleged that Musk and X executives, including CEO Linda Yaccarino and content head Brett Weitz, pressured him into signing a contract under pretenses. 

The lawsuit claims that X used Lemon's name to attract advertisers, promising him a $1.5 million minimum payment for the one-year deal.

Other promises included a 60% share of ad revenue, performance bonuses based on follower count, a share of creator revenue, and $500,000 in advertising credits.

Despite these assurances, the agreement was abruptly canceled, leaving Lemon to allege exploitation and fraud.

With his memoir and legal battles underway, Don Lemon is determined to clear his name and regain control of his career.