CNN’s Don Lemon had a lot of fun on New Year’s Eve. Perhaps a little too much fun. After getting drunk and pierced on live television, CNN cut his mic when he said what we all were thinking about 2016.
‘Mama Lemon, I Don’t Know What He’s Thinking’
While Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin reveled in New York City, Don Lemon and Brooke Baldwin partied in New Orleans, Louisiana. Several hours before midnight, Lemon started in on the tequila shots, even going behind the bar to dole them out.
It seems @donlemon, @BrookeBCNN got the #CNNNYE party (and the drinking) started a little early down in New Orleans https://t.co/vSI1sy9oXk
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) January 1, 2017
Why is @donlemon doing shots behind the bar? #CNNNYE https://t.co/tTWoQk9Scs
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) January 1, 2017
And he just kept going and going …
.@donlemon and @BrookeBCNN are still drinking tequila in New Orleans. Less than 2-hours to go! #CNNNYE https://t.co/vDDHMBdfvW
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) January 1, 2017
Of course, the it’s-not-even-8-p.m.-yet-in-New-Orleans drinking was just the beginning. Kathy Griffin started pushing for Lemon to get a nipple piercing while out on the town in the Big Easy. Lemon even started unbuttoning his shirt before Baldwin talked him down to just an ear piercing.
https://twitter.com/jnsanchez/status/815445077782827008
‘Yea I’m Lit. Who Cares?’
As the evening wore on and Lemon continued doing shot after shot of tequila, things got real. Just after midnight, as the camera panned over kissing partygoers and fireworks, Lemon started in with, “So, 2016 was awful…” and then his mic was abruptly cut off.
https://twitter.com/jnsanchez/status/815512080812019712
Personally, I think CNN was trying to keep the mood happy, hopeful, and light — it was THE moment, after all — but I also think most of us can agree that 2016 was not the best year.
They didn’t keep him cut off from the world for the whole night, though. About 20 minutes later, Lemon and Baldwin came back, and Lemon poured out his heart.
https://twitter.com/jnsanchez/status/815432241341939712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
At one point, Lemon said:
“People are saying I’m ‘lit.’ Yeah, I’m lit. Who cares?”
I’m with you, Don. It’s New Year’s Eve – if you can’t get “lit” and pierced on live television on New Year’s Eve, when can you?
For what it’s worth, Twitter was in love with drunk Don Lemon last night.
https://twitter.com/dylandersen/status/815434482119344130?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Don Lemon is a black gay man who had to talk about Trump every single day this year.
Let the man drink
— clare! (@notclare) January 1, 2017
@BrookeBCNN & @donlemon, you guys have been the BEST part of #CNNNYE !! xo☺️
— Lindsey Lubkey (@LLubkey) January 1, 2017
I have to agree – New Year’s Eve should be about revelry and happiness. And Don Lemon sure looked like he was having a great time last night!
Featured Image via screenshot from Twitter video
