Don Lemon's Non-Apology For Mocking Trump Supporters As Illiterate Hicks: 'I Didn't Catch Everything That Was Said'

Brittany M. Hughes | January 29, 2020
DONATE
Font Size

Days after mocking conservative Trump supporters as a bunch of illiterate hicks who're too stupid to read a map -- and only after the clip had gone viral and sparked widespread backlash -- CNN host Don Lemon gave what was perhaps the most insincere non-apology in the history of mea culpas, claiming that he hadn't heard the joke and therefore couldn't be held accountable for laughing at it.

"One final note that I have for you," Lemon began as he wrapped up his show Tuesday night."Because this is personally important to me to address this. Okay? Anyone, ask anyone who knows me. They’ll tell you. I don't believe in belittling people. Belittling anyone for who they are, for what they believe, or where they're from."

"During an interview on Saturday night, one of my guests said something that made me laugh. And while in the moment, I found the joke humorous and I didn't catch everything that was said," Lemon went on. "Just to make this perfectly clear, I was laughing at the joke. And not at any group of people."


Except that "the joke" in question was ex-GOP strategist Rick Wilson mocking Trump voters as a "rube Boomer demo" who can't read a map.

Just to remind, that's exactly what Lemon was laughing at. Watch:

RELATED: Six Times CNN Failed At Maps

donate