ATLANTA (LALATE) – Don Lemon confessed during his Bishop Eddie Long scandal coverage Sunday that he was abused as a child. CNN News’ Don Lemon admitted during his broadcast coverage of Bishop Eddie Long’s Sunday sermon that he is a survivor of child abuse. But Lemon would not specify if the attacked was a bishop or member of the clergy.
Lemon told CNN News viewers Sunday that his abuse happened as a youth. Lemon’s insertion of his own personal struggles into the news broadcast were reactionary, said Lemon thereafter on Twitter. He said “I had no idea I’d say that on national TV. It just came out. Sadly, it’s the truth for so many young men.” Lemon went on to give his own experience as reference to the mindset of young male victims.
Bishop Eddie Long Pictures Released by Plaintiff’s Attorney
Bishop Eddie Long Photo 1
Bishop Eddie Long Photo 2
Lemon today is 44, a top talent for ratings troubled CNN News. But Lemon in his confession offered his perspective of child abuse as an African American teen. Lemon said it’s hard for African American males to discuss the subject. Lemon admits he kept it a secret from his mom until he turned 30 years old. “The things these men were talking about, especially African American men don’t want to talk about . . . I couldn’t tell my mom that until I was 30 years old.”
On Sunday, national news was attempting to cover Bishop Eddie Long’s first sermon since he was named in four lawsuits brought by multiple African males. The males claim alleged conduct starting between ages 17 and 18. Their attorney released cellphone pictures of Bishop Eddie Long from the alleged scandal in which the Bishop poses in a muscle shirt and bike lycra shorts in his bathroom. Long’s rep has defended the pictures as not proof of plaintiffs’ allegations but evidence of the Bishop’s fondness for good health.
Lemon said during his broadcast “I have never admitted this on TV. I’m a victim of a pedophile when I was a kid. Someone who was much older than me.” Lemon added “Those are the things that they do. The language, ‘This doesn’t make you gay, if you do this.’ “So when someone starts to say that, you start to perk and say, ‘ho.’” While some quickly praised Lemon’s insertion of personal confession, others criticized the insertion since the matter of Bishop Long remains in dipsute with Long asserting no wrongdoing.
Plaintiffs: Jamal Parris, Maurice Robinson and Anthony Flagg
Eddie Long Plaintiffs Photos 1
Eddie Long Plaintiffs Photos 2
Eddie Long Plaintiffs Photos 3
Long told his congregation Sunday that the allegations against him have been “painful”, that he will fight the lawsuits but won’t defend them in the news. And yet, despite four complaints from plaintiffs, local news has yet to filter how many details were known by members of the congregation. The Spiritual Sons were held open to the public. Trips by Bishop Eddie Long with church members, even teen boys, around the globe were well known. Long has defended his actions as trying to help young men. His rep said that the Bishop has for sometime tried to help “numerous individuals and families in tough situations”.
The plaintiffs disagree. One asserts that he had a basketball collegiate offer lined up and was told to decline it to enter into a ministry close to the Bishop so that he could abuse him.
Evidence presented has indicated that the mothers of the boys may not have known of the conduct initially. Plaintiff counsel BJ Bernstein has hoped the initial two lawsuit will encourage other alleged victims to come forward. Within two days, two males had come forward, bringing the case to four plaintiffs. Bernstein has hinted the case could still grow further.
