When life gives you lemons …
Don Lemon swears he’s not angry after being unceremoniously ousted from CNN earlier this week.
“It’s not in my nature,” the journalist, 57, told Page Six exclusively at the TIME 100 gala on Wednesday night. “I’m not an angry person, I’m not mad.”
Despite tweeting that he was “stunned” by his abrupt dismissal, Lemon claimed that he’s no longer in shock.
“I’m a very resilient person,” he explained.
“I’ve had a very full life with lots of twists and turns. I come from strong, sturdy stock in Louisiana and I am lucky enough to be in a position where I don’t have to worry about, you know, not having a place to live or a home or whatever.”
Lemon, who attended the starry gala with his fiancé, Tim Malone, paid tribute to his future husband.
“I have people around me who love me, including this gentleman right here,” he said, gesturing towards Malone, “So I’m good.”
The “Transparent” author is optimistic about his uncertain future.
“My emotions are upward,” he shared. “There’s a reason that this happened and then we’ll see what happens in the future but I’m actually here to celebrate the people from TIME 100 and not talk about me and what’s happened to me.”
On Monday, Lemon tweeted a missive announcing his axing.
“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN,” he wrote. “I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly.”
“At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be about to continue to do the work I have loved at the network,” he continued. “It is clear that there are some larger issues at play.”
Lemon went on to thank his “colleagues and the many teams” he has worked with, graciously calling them “the most talented journalists in the business.”
Shortly after the news broke, CNN Communications released a statement via Twitter, claiming Lemon’s story was “inaccurate.”
“Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter,” the statement read.
Page Six asked Lemon about the discrepancy but he declined to comment.
Earlier this year, the “Don Lemon Tonight” anchor was mired in a sexism scandal when he claimed on-air that presidential candidate Nikki Haley “isn’t in her prime” as a 51-year-old woman.
“A woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and maybe her 40s,” he added.
When a slightly flabbergasted Poppy Harlow pressed Lemon on whether he was referring to “prime for childbearing” or “prime for being president,” Lemon stuck to his guns.
“If you Google, ‘when is a woman in her prime,’ it’ll say 20s, 30s, and 40s,” he mansplained. “I’m not saying I agree with that so I think she has to be careful about saying that [politicians aren’t in their prime].”
He went on temporary leave and, during his absence, Lemon apologized to co-hosts Harlow and Kaitlan Collins on an internal call.
“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to hurt anyone,” Lemon said, according to a transcript obtained by The Post.
Ahead of his return to the anchor desk, Lemon delivered a public apology.
“I appreciate the opportunity to be back on @CNNThisMorning today,” the journalist tweeted. “To my network, my colleagues and our incredible audience — I’m sorry.”
He added, “I’ve heard you, I’m learning from you, and I’m committed to doing better. See you soon.”
Other celebs at the gala included Austin Butler, Kim Kardashian, Drew Barrymore, Natasha Lyonne, Salma Hayek, Doja Cat, Lea Michele and Jennifer Coolidge.
