Don Lemon was the brightest star at CNN. Then he became the story
The host of "CNN Tonight" had a cryptic message for viewers just before he signed off from his May 14, 2021, broadcast.
"This is the last night [of] 'CNN Tonight With Don Lemon,' anchor Don Lemon announced. "It's been really, really great ... but changes are coming, and I will fill you in."
The comments sparked a frenzy on social media. Was Lemon, one of the cable news network's biggest stars, saying goodbye? Was he going to one of its competitors?
The hubbub became so frantic that Lemon took to Twitter to defuse the situation, tweeting that he was not leaving CNN, just starting a new phase of his career. His prime-time show would be rebranded with a new title, "Don Lemon Tonight," and strike a more informal tone. He would often forgo wearing a tie and take a more casual approach in interviews.
He flashed his megawatt smile a few days later on May 17, when he appeared in his usual time slot.
