Don Lemon Shares What He'll Do Next Following CNN Exit at TIME100 Gala with Tim Malone

Don Lemon holds hands with partner Tim Malone at the 2023 TIME100 Gala held at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Wednesday night (April 26) in New York City.

Suiting up in a dapper look, the newscaster opened up to press at the event about what he’ll be doing next following his exit from CNN.

Admitting that his firing did come as a surprise, Don told ExtraTV that “life goes on. That’s behind me and we’ll see what happens in the future. I live my life with no regrets and whatever I did, I did, I owned.”

So, what’s next for Don? “I’m gonna spend my summer on the beach and on the boat, and with my family. Just chill out and then I’ll see what happens next, but I’m fortunate enough to be in a position where I can do that.”

“I have time,” he added. “I don’t have to rush to another job, even if I want another job. [I'm] excited for a new chapter.”

Don shared that “life is short, and whatever life hands you, you have to bob and weave and do it. I didn’t think I would be at work one evening and get a phone call that my sister had died, but I had to deal with that. I didn’t think that my dad would die young of diabetes… So there are lots of things that come your way that are unexpected, but I’m a survivor. I come from strong, sturdy stock in Louisiana and a lot of people are rooting for me and who love me.”

Check out all the pics of Don Lemon and Tim Malone at the TIME100 Gala…