Don Lemon Announces Departure From Long-Running News Show on CNN, NO- He’s Not Leaving The Network

CNN Tonight host Don Lemon announced that he was leaving the show.

On Friday, the popular news anchor informed viewers that the episode would be his last.

Don Lemon announces that tonight is his last night hosting “CNN Tonight” pic.twitter.com/XF1QOaBqwG

— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) May 15, 2021

“It’s been really, really great. This is the last night that will be CNN Tonight With Don Lemon,” the veteran news anchor said at the end of Friday’s episode. “So, I appreciate all the years of CNN Tonight With Don Lemon, but changes are coming, and I will fill you in.”

He teased the news on Twitter before the announcement. 

“Another @CNNTonight exclusive. I have a big announcement. I hope you’re ok with it. See you at 10pE. #CNN,” Lemon wrote.

Another @CNNTonight exclusive. I have a big announcement. I hope you’re ok with it. See you at 10pE. #CNN pic.twitter.com/YlvNjuN5ea

— Don Lemon (@donlemon) May 15, 2021

Some Twitter users responded negatively to the news of Lemon’s departure.

pic.twitter.com/RiakUMvYS4

— (@dudewheresmyxmr) May 15, 2021

Yay! Can he now leave the country please?

— Rick Allen (@RickAllen2020) May 15, 2021

It’ll be nice not to hear Don. But I’m sure his replacement will be equal or greater to the amount of suck that he was pic.twitter.com/qFt741rkqH

— Berzerker (@KH75974470) May 15, 2021

And as always, pic.twitter.com/9aEXrblXHr

— Peter Goudy (@PeterGoudy1) May 15, 2021

As naysayers threw shots, Lemon took to Twitter to clarify that he was leaving the show– not the network.

“So I got back down to my office after the show — everybody calm down,” he said in a video he posted. “I didn’t say I was leaving CNN. I just said it was the end of an era for CNN Tonight with Don Lemon.”

He added: “I am not leaving CNN, so you will have to tune in Monday at 10 o’clock to see. That’s it. So relax, I’m not leaving.”

“Didn’t mean to set the internet on fire. What I said last night was true. CNN Tonight with Don Lemon is no more,” he tweeted next to the new logo for his show. “I’ll be back on Monday with my newly named show Don Lemon Tonight. See you Monday at 10pE.”

Didn’t mean to set the internet on fire. What I said last night was true. CNN Tonight with Don Lemon is no more. I’ll be back on Monday with my newly named show Don Lemon Tonight. See you Monday at 10pE. pic.twitter.com/89GFXULV9m

— Don Lemon (@donlemon) May 15, 2021

As Lemon bid his audience farewell, he promoted his CNN documentary about the legendary Motown singer Marvin Gaye, titled What’s Going On.

Lemon has been with the network since 2006.