The CNN anchor, 56, reflected on his last eight years in prime-time news as hegave an emotional speechFriday on the final episode ofDon Lemon Tonight, before he joins CNN’s morning show as a co-anchor alongsideKaitlan CollinsandPoppy Harlow.
He watched on as clips played of him covering thelegalization of same-sex marriage, theStoneman Douglas High School shooting, theJanuary 6 Capitol attack,Russia’s invasion of Ukraineand other big moments, as well as interviews withMorgan Freeman,Mike Tyson,Spike Lee,LeBron Jamesand former PresidentDonald Trump.
“This is it, the finalDon Lemon Tonight. It’s a bittersweet moment for me, but it’s not going to be a sad moment. I’m not going to be sad about it,” he said. “I’m just going to miss working with all of the great people who really work their butts off every single day to put this show on the air. So tonight, this isn’t about me, this is about you guys who are in the control room and in this studio. This is about you.”
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Lemon thanked hiscolleagues for having his backin tough situations, as well as when hisolder sister suddenly diedin 2018. “I am immensely grateful to all of you. You will always be my family. We were all in this together,” he continued.
Don Lemon.John Lamparski/WireImage
TheThis Is the Fireauthor admitted there were some parts of the show he won’t miss. “I’m not gonna miss the brain-fog from these hours, getting off at midnight, nor the late night meals, which gave me dad bod. All of us, we gained and lost so much weight together,” Lemon joked.
Lemon concluded with a message for his loyal viewers: “I know I was not always perfect because no one is perfect. There are immense pressures that come with this job, and in particular, this time slot at 10 p.m., when people are going to bed. So sometimes, all I could do — I’m gonna be honest with you — is just smile and just get to the commercial break sometimes.
“Sometimes it was exhausting because some of the things that we discuss here are so personal and so consuming — all-consuming. So, I hope I made you proud, and I thank you for tuning in all these years, and I hope that you’re going to join me in the morning. So, I will simply say, goodnight and I will see you soon,” Lemon concluded.
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Lemon began working at CNN as a correspondent in 2006, before he joinedCNN Tonightas a host in 2014. Last May, hedebuted on his own showDon Lemon Tonight.
As he moves to mornings,Alisyn CamerotaandLaura Coateswill take over Lemon’s prime-time slot, from 10 p.m. to midnight ET.
source: people.com
