Former NCS anchor Don Lemon was branded a “f–king moron” throughout a tense street confrontation with a passerby in New York City — a clash that shortly spiraled right into a profanity-laced shouting match captured on video.
The ex-primetime host, who was ousted from NCS in 2023, approached a person throughout a man-on-the-street section in Manhattan for his podcast when the alternate turned ugly nearly instantly.
“You’re a f–king moron, dude,” the person instructed Lemon, slicing him off inside seconds of introducing himself.
“Thank you. So are you,” Lemon shot again, grinning earlier than making an attempt to salvage the interplay.
Don Lemon confronts a passerby in Manhattan throughout a man-on-the-street section that erupted right into a profanity-laced shouting match. YouTube / Don Lemon
The confrontation started when Lemon tried to ask the place the person was from and whether or not he lived in New York. Instead of answering, the stranger instantly acknowledged him and hurled the primary insult.
“I’m glad you watch me,” Lemon responded, making an attempt to defuse the jab.
“No, I don’t,” the person snapped.
The heckler accused NCS and MSNBC of being “full of s–t,” claiming the networks lied about “genocide” in Gaza and “all wars.”
Lemon countered that each shops had merely reported on what worldwide courts dominated, however the man wasn’t satisfied.
“They would never say it’s genocide,” he stated. “They were protecting Israel.”
Lemon tried to steer the dialog away from the Gaza challenge, telling the person he was contradicting himself by claiming to not watch him whereas additionally referencing his clips.
“You’re a f–king moron, dude,” the person instructed Lemon, slicing him off inside seconds of introducing himself. YouTube / Don Lemon
“You must watch me,” Lemon stated. “So you’re not making any sense.”
The man in contrast it to realizing who George Clooney is with out seeing his motion pictures.
“And I’ve seen you spouting nonsense,” he added.
When Lemon requested why he would stroll as much as somebody and insult them, the person shrugged: “Because it just comes out, man. Because you’re big and think you’re something.”
At that time, Lemon launched right into a mini-lecture about self-respect, suggesting the person solely hurled insults as a result of he “didn’t accomplish much” in his personal life.
The heckler blasted NCS and MSNBC as “full of s–t” earlier than pivoting to Gaza and Israel. YouTube / Don Lemon
“I would never in a million years walk up to anybody, whether I knew them or not, and call them a f–king moron,” Lemon stated.
“Not unless I had terrible self-respect and I wanted to lash out because I felt bad about myself.”
But the person wasn’t backing down. “I called you a f–king moron,” he retorted. “I don’t need to defend that, cuz it’s accurate.”
The alternate became a loop of accusations and denials. Lemon insisted, “It’s on tape. You said it three times.” The heckler denied it, then accused Lemon of insulting him again.
The spat devolved right into a loop of denials, with every man accusing the opposite of the identical insult. YouTube / Don Lemon
“You called me a f–king moron too,” the person stated.
Lemon argued that until the person actually watched him, he had no thought what he really stated on-air.
“If you’re watching clips of me, then you’re watching someone else’s idea of who I am,” Lemon stated.
Nearby onlookers muttered that the person appeared drunk, however Lemon didn’t reduce off the confrontation till the person lastly walked away, taunting: “Go find a library.”
NCS anchors Poppy Harlow, Don Lemon, and Kaitlan Collins on set earlier than Lemon’s firing in 2023. NCS/Twitter
“You go find a library,” Lemon barked again. “There’s a bookstore right there.”
Afterward, Lemon admitted on digicam that the argument was “beneath” him however stated he discovered it “fun.”
The Post has sought remark from Lemon. The man with whom he interacted couldn’t be recognized.
Lemon, 59, was fired from NCS in April 2023 after a collection of controversies, together with remarks about ladies being “past their prime” and reported clashes with colleagues.