Rough week for CNN, and it’s only Tuesday…
A lawsuit has reportedly been filed against CNN’s Don Lemon alleging he sexually assaulted a man at a dive bar in the Hamptons.
The news was first reported by Mediaite, which claims to have obtained a copy of the lawsuit that alleges Lemon “vigorously rubbed his genitalia” and “shoved his index and middle fingers into [Plaintiff’s] moustache” repeatedly asking, “Do you like p—y or d—k?”
Mediate reports that the plaintiff is seeking unspecified damages for “emotional pain and suffering” and details the incident as follows:
Dustin Hice, the man accusing Lemon of assault, claimed that the CNN host attacked him at Sag Harbor dive bar Murf’s in July 2018. Hice, who was working at the time at another Hamptons bar, alleged that one night at Murf’s he recognized Lemon there. Hice offered to buy him a drink, which the CNN host declined.
Later in the night, according to Hice, Lemon approached him and his group of friends and, after putting his hand down his shorts he ‘vigorously rubbed his genitalia’ and ‘shoved his index and middle fingers into [Hice’s] moustache.’
…
Hice said he left the bar ‘shocked and humiliated.’
A spokesperson for CNN told Mediaite in a statement that Lemon “categorically denies these claims and this matter does not merit any further comment at this time.”
The spokesperson also indicated that Hice has allegedly “displayed a pattern of contempt for CNN on his social media accounts” in the past, setting the stage for a possible defense strategy.
According to the New York Post, "A source close to Lemon said Hice’s camp claimed that [they] contacted Lemon’s lawyers and demanded $1.5 million in exchange for not filing the suit, the source said. Lemon refused the demand because he did nothing wrong, the source said."
NY Post reports that Hice claims in the suit that he suffered “severe emotional stress and loss of future earnings and opportunities," as news of the incident between he and Lemon "spread around town, with locals whispering about what happened, including some who 'cheekily ordered lemon drops and laughed at Plaintiff’s expense' when he was 'out about town,' leaving Hice humiliated and angry."
“When the cameras are turned off … Mr. Lemon’s actions are in stark and disturbing contrast to the public persona he attempts to portray," the lawsuit reportedly reads.
This story is developing.
Hice is reportedly being represented by New York law firm Nesenoff & Miltenberg.