“I didn’t lose my job,” the 58-year-old states during a recent Zoom call from Chicago. “My job lost me.”

While that claim may provide some perspective, he was indeed dismissed following a controversy he details in his newly released book, “I Once Was Lost.”

Last year, during a discussion aimed at challenging Nikki Haley’s age-related remarks about President Joe Biden, Lemon suggested that Haley was “not in her prime.” He specifically remarked: “She says that politicians are not in their prime. Nikki Haley is not in her prime, sorry. A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s, and maybe her 40s.” He later issued an apology.

In hindsight, he shares that he believed he was advocating against ageism and defending older individuals by highlighting the hypocrisy in society’s treatment of women over time.

However, that’s not how it was perceived. “For people to think I’m somehow sexist or misogynistic was incredibly hurtful,” he reflects.

Currently, Lemon is back in the reporting scene, hosting “The Don Lemon Show,” which is a digital platform rather than traditional television, where he spent many years at CNN. His experience suggests that there can be life beyond “cancel culture”—depending on the nature of your offense—if one is open to transitioning to a different, often smaller, platform.

“Reinventing yourself is always possible,” he says. “That’s one of the wonderful things about America. As long as you don’t cling to the past or the mistakes you’ve made—regardless of whether you think they were fair or not—there’s always a chance for reinvention and reciprocity.”

Don Lemon Wishes He Had More Opportunity to Defend Himself

The rise of social media and rapidly changing standards for what is deemed acceptable has led to an uptick in “cancel culture.” Lemon’s comments regarding “prime” status caused quite a stir.

“People tend to leverage situations to push for changes within organizations,” he observes about that period. “It felt chaotic at the time, like a storm, and in the moment, it’s hard to think clearly. I wish I had had the chance to defend myself more, but I wasn’t able to do so due to contractual obligations. I hope that people understand this context.”

Further defending himself, he shares, “In meetings, I would often notice that men dominated discussions. I’d make a point to say, ‘Alright ladies, would you like to contribute?’ which typically led to meaningful input from them. I even encouraged bringing new female employees onto the show.” A critical report from Variety claimed he had made inappropriate remarks to female colleagues at CNN; however, he has previously made comments that raised eyebrows.

A representative for Lemon told YSL News last year that the Variety report was “filled with unfounded stories and no reliable evidence,” describing it as “entirely reliant on anonymous gossip from 15 years ago. It’s disappointing that Variety would act so irresponsibly.”

Regarding accusations of being a misogynist, Lemon expresses: “That accusation is one of the most painful experiences I’ve faced, especially since it contradicts my true self. To see that narrative take hold has been extremely hurtful.”

Don Lemon Shares His Thoughts on Elon Musk’s X Platform

Lemon had a conversation with Elon Musk earlier this year while launching his own media venture in collaboration with X. Following a tense exchange during the interview, he has since filed a lawsuit against Musk after their partnership was canceled.

He refers to the platform as a space rife with extreme right-wing views and conspiracy theories.

“It’s disheartening because it could be such a powerful tool for good, but unfortunately, that potential is not being realized,” he laments.

For Lemon to reshape his public image and emerge from a challenging situation, he will need supporters who are ready to move past any preconceived notions about him. While this may prove difficult for some, he emphasizes that human nature revolves around the concepts of “reinvention” and “reciprocity.”

“As long as you uphold those principles,” he asserts, “even if some people resist or distrust your intentions, it ultimately falls on you to live by those ideals.”