Former CNN host Don Lemon’s street interview with a passerby turns ugly in NYC

The stranger immediately recognized Don Lemon after the former CNN host approached him, and he hurled the first insult instead of answering
PUBLISHED SEP 9, 2025
Don Lemon interviewed a man on the streets of NYC who ended up calling him a 'f*****g moron' (Don Lemon/YouTube)
Don Lemon interviewed a man on the streets of NYC who ended up calling him a 'f*****g moron' (Don Lemon/YouTube)

WASHINGTON, DC: Former CNN host Don Lemon had a tense street confrontation with a passerby in New York City who branded him a “f*****g moron.” The clash quickly spiraled into a profanity-laced shouting match, which was captured on video.

Lemon approached a man during a man-on-the-street segment in Manhattan for his podcast, and the interview turned ugly almost immediately.

Don Lemon tells passerby 'you’re not making any sense'

The man told Lemon, “You’re a f****ng moron, dude,” cutting him off within seconds of introducing himself.

Lemon shot back, “Thank you. So are you,” and grinned before trying to salvage the interaction.

It all began when Lemon asked the man where he was from and whether he lived in New York. The stranger immediately recognized him and hurled the first insult instead of answering. Lemon tried to defuse the jab, saying, “I’m glad you watch me,” but the man replied, “No, I don’t.”

Don Lemon had a confrontation with a passerby in NYC during a street interview (Don Lemon/YouTube)
Don Lemon had a confrontation with a passerby in NYC during a street interview (Don Lemon/YouTube)

The man went on to accuse CNN and MSNBC of being “full of s**t.” Lemon responded that both outlets had simply reported on what international courts ruled about the Gaza issue, but the man wasn’t convinced.

He said, “They would never say it’s genocide. They were protecting Israel.” The former CNN host then tried to steer the conversation away from Gaza, pointing out that the man was contradicting himself by claiming not to watch him while referencing his clips. “You must watch me. So you’re not making any sense,” Lemon said.

The man pushed back, comparing it to knowing who George Clooney is without seeing his movies. He added, “And I’ve seen you spouting nonsense.”

Don Lemon launches into mini lecture about self-respect

During the conversation, Lemon asked the man why he would walk up to someone and insult them. The man replied, “Because it just comes out, man. Because you’re big and think you’re something.”

Lemon then launched into a mini lecture about self-respect, suggesting the man only hurled insults because he “didn’t accomplish much” in his own life.

He said, “I would never in a million years walk up to anybody, whether I knew them or not, and call them a f*****g moron.” Lemon added, “Not unless I had terrible self-respect and I wanted to lash out because I felt bad about myself.”

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 07: Don Lemon arrives at EA Sports presents The Madden Bowl at Orpheum Theater on February 07, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images)
Don Lemon arrives at EA Sports presents The Madden Bowl at Orpheum Theater on February 07, 2025, in New Orleans, Louisiana (Photo by Kaitlyn Morris/Getty Images)

Despite Lemon’s lecture, the man didn’t back down. “I called you a f****ng moron. I don’t need to defend that, cuz it’s accurate,” he said.

The exchange soon devolved into a loop of accusations and denials. Lemon insisted, “It’s on tape. You said it three times,” but the heckler denied it and accused Lemon of insulting him back. “You called me a f*****g moron too,” the man said. Lemon countered that unless the man actually watched him, he had no idea what he really said on-air. 

Don Lemon had a confrontation with a passerby in NYC during a street interview (Don Lemon/YouTube)
Don Lemon Lemon asks the man why he would walk up to someone and insult them, and the man replies that it just comes out because Lemon is big and thinks he’s something (Don Lemon/YouTube)

“If you’re watching clips of me, then you’re watching someone else’s idea of who I am,” the former CNN host said. Nearby onlookers muttered that the man seemed drunk, but Lemon continued the confrontation until the man finally walked away, taunting, “Go find a library.”

Lemon shot back, “You go find a library. There’s a bookstore right there.” He later admitted on camera that the argument was “beneath” him but said he found it “fun.”

MORE STORIES

Sen Roger Marshall introduced the Passport Sanity Act to end gender-neutral passports citing security and Trump-era precedent
21 hours ago
JB Pritzker went after Trump after he suggested alleged crime-ridden cities like Chicago could serve as a training ground for National Guard troops
2 days ago
With the US nearing a government shutdown, Donald Trump posted an AI-generated video mocking Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries as desperate
3 days ago
Trump revived his long-running clash with Jerome Powell by sharing a viral cartoon while demanding deeper rate cuts despite Fed independence
5 days ago
Supreme Court backs Trump’s move to freeze $4 billion in foreign aid, marking a major win for executive power
5 days ago
Pam Bondi also said the Justice Department was transferring inmates taken off death row under former President Joe Biden into maximum-security prisons
7 days ago
During a Wisconsin Senate immigration debate, the top Democrat lunged at chairman’s gavel, calling Republicans 'cowards' and questioning their faith
7 days ago
Donald Trump said UN officials 'ought to be ashamed,' adding he will send a letter to the Secretary General demanding an immediate investigation
Sep 25, 2025
JD Vance said that Democrats like Gavin Newsom and the left-wing media fuel violence by spreading lies about law enforcement
Sep 25, 2025
The display shows black-and-white presidential portraits in gold frames, but Joe Biden is replaced with an autopen signing his signature
Sep 25, 2025