Don Lemon attends Grammys, but skips coverage after arrest
- - Don Lemon attends Grammys, but skips coverage after arrest
Jay Stahl, USA TODAY February 2, 2026 at 2:07 AM
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Despite plans to cover the Grammys Sunday evening, former CNN anchor Don Lemon won't be making an appearance on the red carpet.
The change in plans follows his arrest by federal agents earlier this week. He posted a video the same day he was arrested, teasing his Grammys coverage.
"Don is it true you are gonna be live on the red carpet at the Grammys?" the person asked, seemingly pretending to be a celebrity red carpet photographer. "Yes, I can confirm the rumors, I am going to be live from the red carpet, that's true," Lemon said, while sitting tieless and wearing a dark blazer.
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After arrest, Don Lemon's post-CNN pivot faces biggest test yet
When asked later how viewers could find the stream, Lemon replied that "it was going to be live on The Don Lemon Show channel on YouTube." He added that "it'll be on Twitch, it's gonna be on Instagram, it's gonna be on Facebook, Substack, anywhere you get streaming, just tune in."
But on Grammys night Sunday, Feb. 1, Lemon did not go live on any of the official streaming platforms that he mentioned. "He will not be covering the Grammys tonight," his agent Jay Sures told USA TODAY on Feb. 1.
Don Lemon lawyer: Client arrested 'while covering' the Grammys
His lawyer announced in a Jan. 30 statement that Lemon was arrested by federal agents the day prior "while covering the Grammy awards," weeks after the now-independent reporter covered immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Lemon's arrest in an X post and said the charges were connected with his involvement covering a protest inside a Minnesota church on Jan. 18. Bondi said that another journalist, Georgia Fort, was arrested as well as political activists Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy.
been arrested on Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon has been arrested on Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/htqfngqOq.fnZkLzkF9Ylg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/dd2ea438095b11f20a73a018652e4485 class=caas-img data-headline="Former CNN host Don Lemon arrested. See his career in photos" data-caption="
Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon has been arrested on Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.
">Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon has been arrested on Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/htqfngqOq.fnZkLzkF9Ylg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/dd2ea438095b11f20a73a018652e4485 class=caas-img>Don Lemon attends the 2022 CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/YiBo5PFXM0gy5ctZsGQmCg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5130245b56ae85dfe47883ca419e23ca class=caas-img data-headline="Former CNN host Don Lemon arrested. See his career in photos" data-caption="
Don Lemon attends the 2022 CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
">Don Lemon attends the 2022 CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/YiBo5PFXM0gy5ctZsGQmCg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/5130245b56ae85dfe47883ca419e23ca class=caas-img>
1 / 12Former CNN host Don Lemon arrested. See his career in photos
Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon has been arrested on Jan. 29, 2026, days after being present at a protest inside a Minneapolis Church. Don Lemon (left) speaks with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), following a press conference alongside alleged victims of Jeffrey Epstein at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, on September 3, 2025.
'I am stunned': Don Lemon fired by CNN, network disputes details
Lemon was fired by CNN in April 2023 after he was accused of making misogynistic remarks about women, including an on-air moment involving former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley.
He once said then-presidential candidate Haley was "not in her prime" and that "a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s," before adding that "I'm not saying I agree with that."
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A Variety report at the time chronicled that Lemon had made off-color remarks about former colleagues Nancy Grace and Soledad O'Brien on air and in meetings. A spokesperson responded, telling USA TODAY that the Variety piece was filled with "patently false anecdotes" and "15-year-old anonymous gossip."
Don Lemon says he 'will not stop' covering the news
Lemon was later released on Jan. 30 by a judge and vowed that he will not "be silenced" outside the federal courthouse in Los Angeles.
"I've spent my entire career covering the news. I will not stop now," Lemon said. "There is no more important time than right now, this very moment for a free and independent media that shines a light on the truth and holds those in power accountable."
Don Lemon at a pre-Grammys event on Jan. 31, 2026, in Los Angeles.
He held hands with his husband, Tim Malone, in photos that circulated the internet, sparking memes and online commentary.
Don Lemon attends the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on Feb. 1, 2026, in Los Angeles.
Then, Lemon popped up at the Clive Davis annual pre-Grammy gala on Jan. 31. He received a standing ovation from the cheering and clapping audience. Malone was seen holding up his phone to record the crowd's response.
But Lemon walked down the Grammys red carpet with Malone on Sunday. He wasn’t covering the affair. This time, he is the subject of the story.
Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Melina Khan, Christopher Cann
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Don Lemon attends Grammys after arrest
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
