Don Lemon labels Megyn Kelly 'fallen' star, says longtime rival's influence has diminished
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Don Lemon took a swipe at his longtime rival, Megyn Kelly during his appearance on 'The Dean Obeidallah Show' on SiriusXM.
When asked by host Dean Obeidallah about what makes a successful TV anchor, the former CNN anchor did not hold back as he used Kelly's career as an example of someone who, in his view, has "fallen from grace."
Don Lemon says Megyn Kelly has become a 'troll'
In his conversation, Don Lemon said, "Even with Megyn Kelly, who I don’t agree with anything and who has become a troll... she was a star when she was on Fox, and that was where she was supposed to be."
He shared that Kelly's current platform is a far cry from her once prominent position at Fox News, and he implied that her influence has diminished.
Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023 following accusations of misogyny and "diva-like behavior" behind the scenes, pointed out that a media personality's success can be significantly impacted by being on the wrong platform.
Don Lemon's praise for Rachel Maddow and Sean Hannity
While critical of Megyn Kelly, Don Lemon was far more complimentary when discussing two prominent media figures, MSNBC's Rachel Maddow and Fox News' Sean Hannity.
He praised both anchors for their ability to captivate audiences and maintain their star power over time despite ideological differences.
"There’s a reason I feel that people watch Rachel Maddow. She’s a star, and not only is she a star, but she has something to say," said Lemon.
Speaking about Hannity, he noted, "I don’t agree with anything, just about anything Sean Hannity says... but he has something to say and a lot of people listen to him."
He emphasized that what sets Maddow and Hannity apart is their ability to articulate their viewpoints in ways that resonate with large audiences.
"Sean’s a star. There’s no denying that," Lemon added.
Don Lemon's rivalry with Megyn Kelly
Don Lemon's criticism of Megyn Kelly comes amid an ongoing public feud with 'The Megyn Kelly Show' host, who has been a vocal critic of the ex-CNN host.
Kelly recently condemned Lemon for a TikTok video mocking former first lady Melania Trump, while referring to an assassination attempt on GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump as a "horrible, distressing experience."
Once a prominent figure at Fox News, Kelly has been outspoken about her disdain for Lemon, particularly after his firing from CNN, according to Mediaite.
