Don Lemon warns against authoritarianism, media consolidation at GLAAD awards

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March 6, 2026 7:33 PM EST

FILE PHOTO: Former CNN anchor Don Lemon walks out of the United States District Court after his arraignment in Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S. February 13, 2026. REUTERS/Go Nakamura/File Photo

By Danielle Broadway

LOS ANGELES, ‌March 6 (Reuters) - American ​journalist ​Don Lemon warned about rising authoritarianism and called for stronger LGBTQ protections at the annual media awards ceremony organized by ‌LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD.

On the red carpet, Lemon said media ⁠industry mergers could threaten diversity and free speech in newsrooms.

"It's going to be really ‌important for independent journalists and ‌independent media to stand up for representation," he told Reuters.

Paramount Global is planning a $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery, the owner of CNN, ​the cable news network from where Lemon was fired in 2023 from his job as an anchor. Paramount has said editorial independence ⁠at the network will be maintained after the deal.

The event in Beverly Hills on Thursday was ​Lemon's first major public appearance since his January arrest while covering ICE protests in Minneapolis. During the ceremony he ​thanked GLAAD CEO Sarah Kate Ellis and ‌the National Association of Black Journalists for supporting him after his arrest.

"Journalism is about the truth, and the truth has ⁠no right or no left," he said.

Hosted by "Mean Girls" actor Jonathan Bennett and featuring an appearance on-stage from Liza Minnelli, the night spotlighted LGBTQ storytelling across media. ⁠HBO Max and Crave's "Heated Rivalry" won outstanding new TV series, with creator Jacob Tierney ​praising earlier shows like "Queer as Folk" and "The L Word" for paving the way.

The drama centers on a high-stakes hockey rivalry and secret romance between two players, portrayed ‌by Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie.

Comedians Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers received the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for raising LGBTQ ‌visibility through their long-running pop-culture podcast "Las Culturistas," which celebrates significant cultural moments with a ⁠variety of celebrity guests, including ‌Lady Gaga and Laura ​Dern.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) will stream the awards ceremony on Hulu from March 21.

(Reporting by Danielle Broadway and Matt Silverstein, Editing by ‌Rosalba O'Brien)


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