In the latest twist of a story that keeps getting stranger, former CNN anchor Don Lemon now suggests that his race — not his actions — may be why churchgoers in St. Paul didn’t believe he was simply “covering” a protest that spilled into a worship service.
Lemon, who has pleaded not guilty to federal charges tied to a January protest inside a church in St. Paul, recently floated a new theory: perhaps congregants assumed he was part of the activist crowd because “the bulk of the protesters were black.”
That explanation came during a conversation with his former colleague Jim Acosta. Acosta replayed footage showing Lemon inside the church telling worshippers, “I’m not part of the group. I’m just here photographing. I’m a journalist.”
But critics point out the obvious: livestreaming yourself walking in with demonstrators tends to blur the line between observer and participant. Social media users were quick to note that skepticism might have had less to do with skin color and more to do with optics.
“I don’t know. It’s weird because they kept saying it even when I told them that I’m not,” Lemon said. “And I think they were looking at me, and because the bulk of the protesters were black, maybe they thought because I’m black that– and I kept saying, ‘I’m not a protester. I’m here covering the protest. I’m not with them,’” he added.
“And they were, you know, they just for some reason could not understand. So why they couldn’t figure that out, I don’t know.”
The former primetime host — who was ousted from CNN in April 2023 — now finds himself in far different surroundings than a studio set. A federal grand jury indicted Lemon and eight others on charges including conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers during the church protest.
Outside court earlier this month, Lemon attempted to elevate the case beyond his own legal jeopardy. “I wanted to say this isn’t just about me, this is about all journalists, especially in the United States,” he declared. “For more than 30 years, I’ve been a journalist, and the power and protection of the First Amendment has been the underpinning of my work. The First Amendment, freedom of the press, is the bedrock of our democracy.”
Yet many Americans see a glaring contradiction: invoking the First Amendment while facing allegations of interfering with others’ right to worship peacefully.
On social media, Lemon’s latest racial explanation was met with swift ridicule. No amount of reframing can change the footage people watched with their ow
Don Lemon says people didn’t think he was a journalist when he stormed the church in MN because he’s black
No Don…. It’s because you livestreamed yourself joining rioters and storming a church
But of course he makes it about race.. pic.twitter.com/hGv0qaqox4
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 19, 2026
