Don Lemon teases departure from CNN show, only to claim he will return on Monday with new format

Don Lemon told his viewers on Friday night that there would be no more CNN Tonight with Don Lemon – shocking his viewers with an unexpected statement.

Lemon, 55, immediately explained on Twitter after his show that he was not leaving the network – and that he’ll be back on Monday.

‘Hey everyone. Not what you think. I’m not leaving CNN. Tune in for the handoff on Monday at 10pE and I’ll explain,’ he wrote.

The announcement appeared to be a tease for a new format for his show. 

He later explained, in a clip posted to Twitter: ‘So I got back down to my officer after the show – everybody calm down. 

‘I didn’t say I was leaving CNN.

‘I just said it was the end of an era for CNN with Don Lemon. 

‘I am not leaving CNN. So you will have to tune in Monday at 10 o’clock to see. 

‘That’s it. So relax. I’m not leaving. I’m not leaving!’ 

Lemon had earlier tweeted a video clip of him at his desk, saying: ‘Tonight I have an announcement about the show. End of an era. Shall I say that? Tune in tonight at 10 and I’ll tell you what’s up?’

On air, he said that it was his last night hosting CNN Tonight with Don Lemon.

His brief remarks confused his viewers, and upset his fans.

‘My husband was sleep and I woke him up screaming. He was like what is wrong. I said Don is leaving,’ tweeted one woman.

‘So now I can get my blood pressure under control. Lord help! Don’t scare me like that.’

Another fan said: ‘My Dad came running to tell me after he watched. We were concerned.’

‘Dude!!!!! can’t do this to us,’ laughed another, when he posted the clip explaining he was not leaving. 

‘Good that was scary,’ said one fan.

Another tweeted a photo of her three Dachshunds looking shocked.

‘What? Seriously, Don, this is very stressful. Even my three Doxies are stressed out.’ 

Lemon in March published a book on racism which shot to the top of best-seller lists.

Entitled This Is the Fire: What I Say to My Friends About Racism, he has heavily promoted the book on his show and to his 1.2 million Twitter followers. 

In 2016, Lemon told Variety he would like to try something different after the Trump era.

‘I would like it to be a little bit looser. I would love it to be like HBO,’ he said.

‘I would love to be able to say those things you never say on basic cable. I would love to be able to have those conversations the way Bill Maher does.’