Former CNN host Don Lemon offered tough words for the Diversity Equity and Inclusion crowd, warning that woke backers of the concept are moving off the reservation.
“There are some great things about DEI, but it’s not all roses and we need to take a look at it and do some rejiggering. It’s gone too far. It’s become a religion and if you don’t abide by the religion you get kicked out of the church,” Lemon said during an interview on “Real Time” with Bill Maher on Friday.
Lemon made his remarks during a discussion with NYU professor Scott Galloway about recent accusations that NPR had gone off the woke deep end.
Its CEO Katherine Maher has come in for extensive mockery for thousands of X posts espousing liberal pablum.
“I think a lot of media companies need to do some self-examination about what’s happening inside the company,” Lemons said.
“I am going to get a lot of s–t from liberals for saying what I said,” Lemon laughed. “I like DEI, but when it becomes a religion it can be used as a cudgel.”
Lemon, a longtime staple of CNN was fired from his gig about a year ago after sparking several controversies with on-air gaffes.
He later landed on X, but his show was cancelled after a contentious interview with owner Elon Musk.