In his first public appearance since being fired by CNN on Monday, Don Lemon talks to Extra at the Time 100 Gala in New York City about where his head is right now, what his immediate plans are, and where he sees his future .
But while Lemon was tight-lipped about whether or not he would sue his former employer, he told Tommy Diddario of Xtra, “I live my life with no regrets.” You can watch the short clip at the top of the page right now.
“I’m not making headlines,” Lemon said after being approached on the red carpet by Didario, who asked if he was surprised to be fired. “I think my statement speaks for itself. Yes, it was a surprise, but life goes on, you know, that’s behind me and we’ll see what happens in the future.
“I’m going to spend my summer on a beach and on a boat and with my family,” Lemon continued, “and just relax. And then I’ll see what happens next. But I’m fortunate that I I’m in a position where I can do it, where I have the time, where I don’t have to run around for another job. Even if I want another job – I do, I’m going to work again But I’m lucky I’m in a position where I don’t have to worry about those things.
Didario asked Lemon if he was excited “for a new chapter”, and Lemon said he was. “Because I think life is short, and you have to, whatever life gives you, you have to bob and weave and do.”
Lemon compared being fired from his job to two other unhappy surprises in his life. “I didn’t think I’d go to work one evening and get a call that my sister had died, but I had to deal with it. I didn’t think that, you know, my dad would die so young of diabetes.” , I had to deal with it, you know. So there are a lot of things that come your way that are unexpected, but I’m a survivor, I come from strong, strong stock in Louisiana, and a lot of people that are contained and who love me.
At this point, Diddario pointed to Lemon’s fiancé, Tim Malone, whom Lemon called “my biggest supporter”.
Just before exiting, Lemon said, “I live my life with no regrets. And, whatever I did, I did and I own it. So, no, I don’t look back and I live in the past.” Doesn’t want to change things. I’d love to get my sister back, but it’s not gonna happen. You can’t change… you can’t turn back time and you can’t go in the past. So, on.