Former CNN host Don Lemon humbled himself as he addressed his race and sexual orientation on Friday’s episode of “Real Time with Bill Maher.”
During a panel discussion with New York University professor Scott Galloway, Lemon spoke to Maher about the pro-Palestinian protests occurring on several college campuses across the United States.
All three criticized the protests as anti-Semitic, with Lemon calling them part of an “epidemic.” But Lemon suggested the protests could be a learning experience for students.
“I’m not making light of what’s going on, but this is teaching some students to deal with discomfort,” Lemon said.
Lemon and Maher criticized the pro-Palestinian university protests on Friday’s show. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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Galloway and Maher agreed to some extent, but Lemon wanted to elaborate.
“Listen, I’m not like you guys. I live in uncomfortable spaces all the time because I’m a black gay man. And I think that’s a good lesson for college students,” Lemon said.
“Why? What’s going on?” Maher asked.
“College is not a comfortable place to learn…” Lemon said.
“No, but you said you lived in that space. Tell me something,” Maher pressed.
Lemon tried to explain, “I’m often the only person of color in the room.”
“There’s only three of us here. Come on,” Maher said, and the audience started laughing and cheering.
Bill Maher questioned the former CNN host’s claim that he lives in an “uncomfortable” space. (Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images/Photo: Arturo Holmes/Film Magic)
The former CNN anchor was mentioned by one of Maher’s guests in 2023, following Lemon’s controversial remarks about Nikki Haley, before appearing on “Real Time.”
“As Don Lemon said on CNN, women can’t actually run for president because once you’re in your 40s, you’re past your prime. But you have to be 35 to run. So it’s really like this: ‘It’s a small window between 35 and 40,’ joked ABC News contributor Sarah Isgur.
Bill Maher furious at anti-Israel demonstrators siding with Iran and Hamas: ‘They’re giant holes!’
Maher opened Friday’s show with a long monologue criticizing anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian protests, calling them “what happens when activism merges with narcissism.”
Bill Maher attacked anti-Israel protesters as narcissists in his opening monologue. (HBO/Getty Images)
“You must be a damn fool to think that the way to get people to your point of view is to make them late to pick up their kids from daycare. And that’s what most people think. ‘I don’t have kids. I have a job, and I’m sure there is injustice in the Middle East just as there is injustice all over the world, but I’m going to be late for work,” said one protester on the bridge. That’s what we thought. We have the luxury of not having to worry about it, and that seems like a kind of privilege,” Maher said.
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