Don Lemon Gets Hero's Welcome To The Spotlight After 'Wildly Excessive' Arrest

Don Lemon reportedly received a standing ovation following his controversial arrest.

The former CNN news anchor found himself in trouble with the law after livestreaming an anti-ICE protest at a Minnesota church. He defended his actions as journalism, but Donald Trump and his camp begged to differ.

Don Lemon switched from television journalism to YouTube after leaving CNN after years. He was fired from the news media company in April 2023 after several on-air controversies and allegations of misogyny.

A day after regaining his freedom, Lemon stepped out with his husband, Tim Malone, to attend Clive Davis' pre-Grammys bash. The couple looked dashing in matching all-black ensembles, with the journalist rocking a confident smile for the cameras.

A source told Page Six that Lemon was the highlight of the party, receiving the love and support of several celebrities. The list reportedly included United States Representative Nancy Pelosi, who allegedly told Lemon he had become the face of the First Amendment.

"Don then asked her if there will be an election in 2026, and she said, 'yes'," the source claimed. Busta Rhymes similarly hailed Lemon, reportedly encouraging him to stay strong because critics would be unable to stop him despite their best efforts.

Lemon was allegedly given the hero treatment at the party, with host Davis giving him a special shout-out. The crowd reportedly erupted into a sea of applause and a standing ovation after Lemon's name was called, proving that many A-listers supported his actions at the Minnesota church.

Lemon's decision to attend Davis's bash came after he and his husband skipped the host's friends-and-family dinner at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel the night before. The dinner was held hours after the reporter was released from jail following his controversial arrest.

The Blast covered the story, reporting that Lemon had been staying at the hotel to cover the 68th annual Grammy Awards, when more than two dozen federal agents stormed his room. These agents consisted of officers from the FBI and Homeland Security.

Lemon was taken into custody around 11 p.m. local time on Thursday, January 29. Shortly after he was dragged from his hotel room, the Department of Homeland Security shed more light on the situation in a statement.

"Don Lemon is being charged with 18 USC 241, Conspiracy to Deprive Rights, and 18 USC 248, Violation of the FACE Act, interfering by force of someone's First Amendment rights," the Homeland Security spokesperson revealed.

As for how people reacted to Lemon's arrest, he received supportive comments on social media platforms. Many condemned the use of several armed officers to arrest an unarmed man as "wildly excessive," while others slammed the government for attacking those with different opinions.

Lemon regained his freedom by Friday afternoon after U.S. District Judge Patricia Donahue allowed him to be released without bail. The Blast shared that his unsealed indictment noted Lemon was being "charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshipers."

The YouTuber's attorney, Marilyn Bednarski, claimed Lemon was "committed to fighting this case" and would plead not guilty to the charges against him. Lemon echoed similar sentiments to reporters after leaving the courthouse, stressing that he did nothing wrong.

"I have spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now. There is no more important time than right now to cover the news," Lemon declared. He vowed that he would not be silenced and doubled down on not quitting as a journalist.

During Lemon's hearing on Friday, January 30, Fonda appeared outside the courthouse to join protesters opposing his arrest. The Blast reported that she had nothing but positive things to say about Lemon, who she argued was only doing his job.

Fonda vowed to fight for Lemon's right to speak, stressing that she and others would not remain silent in the face of injustice. She added that they were in the right because their actions aligned with America's values and constitution.

The Hollywood icon also defended Lemon's character, claiming the government would "make up all kinds of defamatory things to say about him" to paint him as the villain. The drama began after Lemon livestreamed an anti-ICE demonstration at a Minnesota church on January 18.