CNN’s Don Lemon was labeled a “turncoat mofo” and “dangerous” when, in the wake of the George Zimmerman verdict, he emerged with his list of five rules to live by, which he handily summed up in one tweet.
dress nicely. use appropriate language. keep ur surroundings clean. go to school. be responsible, involved parents. That's offensive? SMH
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) July 28, 2013
Those comments led Def Jam records co-founder Russell Simmons to issue an open letter to Lemon on his Global Grind website and declare Lemon a “slave” who should stick to reading the news. Lemon responded today with his own open letter to Simmons, and response was polarized.
Supporters applauded Lemon’s stand for personal responsibility despite an environment of racism.
@DonLemonCNN I love your honesty and openness. Great commentary today!
— U.S. Blues ??? (@starshine731) August 10, 2013
Don Lemon just slapped the #@%* out of Russell Simmons on @CNN. Good for him!
— BLACK CONSERVATIVE (@blackrepublican) August 10, 2013
https://twitter.com/sunshine311/status/366318497711669248
https://twitter.com/MattCav_/status/366318766583328768
https://twitter.com/V_ball_Chica7/status/366318926419869696
Man @DonLemonCNN is bring the knowledge. People need to take notice and listen up
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) August 10, 2013
"attack the problem, not the messenger." @DonLemonCNN to @UncleRUSH, in an epic dressing-down on-air just now.
— Willful Disregard For Human Life Is Disqualifying (@bywillpollock) August 10, 2013
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@DonLemonCNN blown away by your #NoTalkingPoints tonight. Glad to hear there are other blacks out there who think like me. Much respect.
— PLJ ?? (@RealParkerJ) August 10, 2013
@DonLemonCNN #NoTalkingPoints Should be TiVo'd and replayed on the hour for the next LIFETIME.
— Daetwan Williams (@TheRealDaetwan) August 10, 2013
Well @DonLemonCNN, I call that a second round knockout on @UncleRUSH. Perfectly said.
— Antwan V. Staley (@antwanstaley) August 10, 2013
Critics, though, thought Lemon was only embarrassing himself further.
@DonLemonCNN @UncleRUSH @GlobalGrind I def will be tuned in #uncletom
— JAY MONACO (@jaymonaco) August 10, 2013
https://twitter.com/metalmujer/status/366317957623717890
https://twitter.com/beyofcknself/status/366323603010093056
You need to let it go Donna @DonLemonCNN
— #Struggle (@illmatic_kid) August 10, 2013
Mannnn, why are people wasting time on what Don Lemon thinks?!
— people over property. (@ericburkley) August 10, 2013
Don Lemon is leaking weak sauce all over CNN right now. Who anointed him the spokesperson for all black people?
— LilEsBella ?? (@LilEsBella) August 10, 2013
@NerdyWonka @DonLemonCNN but, but, but I thought all would be right with the world if black folks pulled up their pants and don't litter
— Sabrina (@Charmed86) August 10, 2013
So Don Lemon is going to attempt to right his wrong by giving white ppl advice on how to do better..who in the hell died and made him GOD!
— Coming in HOT!?? (@JAPITTER) August 10, 2013
Instead of saying "my list was overly simplistic & didn't take into account years of inequality" @DonLemonCNN thinks a white list will help?
— April (@ReignOfApril) August 10, 2013
Don Lemon needs to go run off and disappear wherever Herman Cain did a few months ago
— Joel D. Anderson (@byjoelanderson) August 10, 2013
https://twitter.com/Y2Dre/status/366323946670395392
Also unimpressed were MSNBC host Touré and Simmons himself.
https://twitter.com/Toure/status/366329931082375172
https://twitter.com/Toure/status/366331794037018624
https://twitter.com/Toure/status/366335607997337601
https://twitter.com/Toure/status/366337175123537920
https://twitter.com/Toure/status/366337310641496064
https://twitter.com/Toure/status/366343338238017536
Scolder? That’s an improvement over “slave.”
Hey @DonLemonCNN — I want to formally apologize for calling you a "slave" – I just think you're promoting the wrong message.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) August 10, 2013
That’s a good start.
happy to be on ur show – just cuz I wasn't available one day, doesn't mean I won't ever do ur show. I respect u, just disagree with u.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) August 10, 2013
been on Hannity and O'Reilly countless times, and although I disagree with most everything out of their mouths, I consider them my friends.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) August 10, 2013
I'm glad you responded to my letter…it's a healthy debate.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) August 10, 2013
but, remember we need to deal with root of suffering of our community before we tell yng ppl to not say the n-word or pull up their pants.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) August 10, 2013
and lastly, after the George Zimmerman verdict, the conversation about black America should NOT be about the n-word and the sagging pants.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) August 10, 2013
Simmons reiterated his message that it’s the war on drugs that is doing the most damage to the black community, though we’re still not sure why promoting high quality education and urging kids to pull up their pants are somehow mutually exclusive.
40years of locking up drug users and teaching them criminal behavior can promote jail culture.? #newjimcrow.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) August 10, 2013
If u don't like saggie pants use your pulpit to #endthewarondrugs. And promote equal high quality education
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) August 10, 2013
Talk about the pipeline of our failing 3rd graders to the prison industrial complex's bottom line
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) August 10, 2013
The backlash over Lemon’s “five rules” has carried on for weeks now and looks to keep going.
Keep in mind that @DonLemonCNN does this knowing he jeopardizes the party, gala, & award invites. My guess is he doesn't care about those.
— Kathleen McKinley (@KatMcKinley) August 10, 2013
. @UncleRUSH Apology accepted. Let's keep the conversation going. a constructive conversation. see u on #CNN soon.
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) August 10, 2013
Editor’s note: This post has been updated with additional tweets.
Related:
‘Just read the news’: Russell Simmons calls Don Lemon ‘a dangerous talking head’
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