Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon Speaks Out on Media Consolidation at GLAAD Awards

Television journalist Don Lemon addressed concerns about growing authoritarianism and media industry mergers during Thursday's GLAAD awards ceremony in Beverly Hills. The former CNN anchor emphasized the importance of independent journalism and LGBTQ representation in media.

Television journalist Don Lemon spoke out against growing authoritarianism and expressed concerns about media industry consolidation during Thursday’s GLAAD awards ceremony in Beverly Hills.

Speaking to reporters on the red carpet, Lemon highlighted how corporate mergers in the media landscape could pose risks to newsroom diversity and freedom of expression.

“It’s going to be really important for independent journalists and independent media to stand up for representation,” he told Reuters.

His comments come as Paramount Global moves forward with a planned $110 billion purchase of Warner Bros Discovery, which owns CNN – the network that terminated Lemon’s anchor position in 2023. Paramount executives have stated they will preserve editorial independence at the network following completion of the deal.

Thursday’s Beverly Hills event marked Lemon’s most prominent public appearance since his January arrest during coverage of ICE demonstrations in Minneapolis. At the ceremony, he expressed gratitude to GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis and the National Association of Black Journalists for their support following his arrest.

“Journalism is about the truth, and the truth has no right or no left,” he said.

The evening celebration, hosted by “Mean Girls” star Jonathan Bennett and featuring a special appearance by Liza Minnelli, highlighted LGBTQ representation across various media platforms. HBO Max and Crave’s “Heated Rivalry” took home the award for outstanding new TV series, with creator Jacob Tierney acknowledging groundbreaking programs like “Queer as Folk” and “The L Word” for opening doors.

The award-winning drama follows an intense hockey competition and hidden romantic relationship between two athletes, played by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.

Comedy duo Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers were honored with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for their work promoting LGBTQ visibility through their popular culture podcast “Las Culturistas,” which explores major cultural events alongside celebrity guests including Lady Gaga and Laura Dern.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation will make the awards ceremony available for streaming on Hulu starting March 21.