CNN's Don Lemon says 'I was not always perfect' as he wraps up final prime-time show — and gets mercilessly mocked

CNN's Don Lemon wrapped up an emotional finale of his prime-time program Friday night by telling viewers that "I was not always perfect" — as well as sniffling and fighting back tears — and he got roundly mocked for it.

What are the details?

Last month the embattled cable network, fighting a string of programming failures and ratings declines, announced that "Don Lemon Tonight" would be ending and that its left-wing host would be co-anchoring a new morning show alongside Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins, which will debut sometime this year.

With time running out on his final prime-time gig, Lemon told viewers, "I know I was not always perfect, because no one is perfect. Because there are immense pressures that come with this job and in particular this time slot at 10 o’clock, when people are going to bed. So sometimes all I could do — I'm gonna be honest with you — is just smile and just get to the commercial break sometimes.”

He concluded by saying, "Sometimes it was exhausting, because some of the things that we discuss here are so personal and so consuming, all-consuming. So I hope I made you proud. And I thank you for tuning in all these years. And I hope that you're gonna join me in the morning. So I will simply say good night, and I will see you soon."

Things got a little theatrical as Lemon waved at the camera and said, “I’m gonna leave, and I'm gonna go upstairs.” He did just that, standing up as the camera followed him trudging up the flight of stairs at the back of his set as he blurted out a squeaky "Bye!" and sniffled and sighed and muttered on his way out.

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'Actually you were perfect, Don — perfectly never objective ...'

Folks commenting on the news of Lemon's final sign-off were none too kind, particularly in regard to his "I was not always perfect" utterance:

• "It’s funny that he actually thought he was perfect sometimes," one commenter noted.
• "Actually you were perfect, Don — perfectly never objective on every subject....but then again no one watched you, especially me," another commenter said.
• "Rarely, if ever, perfect. Helped spread the hate and discontent," another commenter wrote.
• "Just like he said, nobody's perfect nor always perfect," another commenter noted. "He should have said, 'I make bad judgments.' Using the word perfect [for yourself] is stroking your own ego."

As for his emotional demeanor, more mockery:

• "I fought back tears, too," another commenter said. "Tears of joy."
• "Being demoted is sad, but this seems like party time!" another commenter exclaimed.
• "Hilarious," another commenter wrote.

Anything else?

Prior to the announcement of Lemon's prime-time show coming to end, his left-wing pronouncements hadn't seemed as frequent. In July, for example, he said the media should not treat Democrats and Republicans as equals because the GOP is "very dangerous to our society"; in September, he defended President Joe Biden's "semi-fascism" term to describe "MAGA Republicans," arguing Biden's words were "unifying" because some believe they are "true."

But right after the announcement, Lemon's leftism seemed revived. In fact, he suggested the vast wealth inherited by King Charles III after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, should be spent on reparations for descendants of the victims of the African slave trade — after which a British commentator raked him over the coals.

Late last month, as Hurricane Ian was hitting Florida's west coast, Lemon tried and failed to get an expert from the National Hurricane Center to blame the storm's intensity on climate change.