In a fiery interview that quickly devolved into a shouting match, British commentator Piers Morgan called out former CNN anchor Don Lemon for his hypocrisy and victimhood narrative, declaring during the exchange: “I think you’re being a complete dick.”
The clash occurred on Thursday’s episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored, where Lemon appeared to discuss, among other topics, free speech and media accountability. While the conversation started civilly, it quickly escalated when Morgan brought up Lemon’s abrupt ousting from CNN.
“I don’t believe in canceling people,” Lemon stated early in the segment. That opened the door for Morgan to press further: “Do you feel you were a victim of cancel culture at CNN?”
After a moment of hesitation, Lemon replied, “Um, I— probably. Probably yes. I’m sure that I was a victim of cancel culture.”
Morgan then rolled a now-infamous 2023 clip that contributed to Lemon’s downfall at the liberal network. In the footage, Lemon asserted that GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley was “not in her prime,” stating, “When a woman is considered to be in her prime [it’s] in her 20s and 30s and maybe 40s. If you Google ‘when is a woman in her prime,’ it will say 20s, 30s, and 40s.”
Morgan, reacting to the clip, asked directly: “If you had a do-over, would you say that again? I mean, what led you to say that?”
Lemon didn’t take kindly to the line of questioning. Visibly irritated, he accused Morgan of setting him up: “When I asked you what subjects you wanted to talk about, you said, ‘I want to talk to you about freedom of speech in America and the response to Charlie Kirk’s death.’ Not once did you mention CNN or that clip. Had I known, I probably wouldn’t have accepted this interview.”
Morgan rejected the accusation of deception, calmly pointing out, “You brought up cancel culture. I simply followed up by asking if your CNN departure was an example of that.”
But civility soon collapsed as the two men began talking over one another. Morgan didn’t mince words: “I think you’re being a complete dick, if I’m honest with you. I do.”
Lemon, clearly flustered, responded sarcastically: “Okay, well that’s very kind and respectful of you.”
“It wasn’t intended to be kind or respectful,” Morgan shot back.
While Lemon tried to maintain some composure, claiming, “I could respond in kind, but I won’t because I think I am above that,” Morgan dismissed the posturing, asserting, “You can say what you like about me, I don’t care… I don’t understand why you’re playing the victim card when you yourself mentioned cancel culture.”
Lemon insisted the viral Haley comment “had nothing to do with me leaving CNN,” blaming conservative media and others for taking his remarks “out of context.”
Morgan wasn’t buying it. “I don’t think I’ll take lectures on being a respectful journalist from you, Don. I won’t.”
The interview went on for several more minutes with Lemon whining like a toddler and Morgan happily watching him IMPLODE.
