- Title: Don Lemon warns against authoritarianism, media consolidation at GLAAD Awards
- Date: 6th March 2026
- Summary: BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (MARCH 5, 2026) (REUTERS) JOURNALIST DON LEMON BEING INTERVIEWED ACTOR CHRIS PERFETTI BEING INTERVIEWED MEDIA PERSONALITY FRANKIE GRANDE PRESS LINE (SOUNDBITE) (English) JOURNALIST, DON LEMON, SAYING: "I think it's a dangerous place that we're in right now especially with the combining of especially conservative media and giant medi
- Embargoed:
- Keywords: Don Lemon GLAAD LGBTQ+ Laverne Cox Liza Minnelli Media Awards
- Location: BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- City: BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
- Country: US
- Topics: Celebrities,Arts/Culture/Entertainment,North America
- Reuters ID: LVA001174206032026RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: 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. “Diversity is key in this country, especially in media.”
As part of his warning, Lemon said consolidation could empower outlets hostile to LGBTQ+ rights.
“Stand up for it and speak out against discrimination today,” he urged.
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, encouraging audiences to use their voices without fear.
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.
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