Don Lemon is pushing back after Kanye West accused him of starting the rumor that he and his wife, Bianca Censori, were kicked out of the 2025 Grammy Awards.
The controversy began when reports surfaced claiming that Ye and Censori arrived uninvited at the awards show with an entourage and were escorted out. Entertainment Tonight initially reported the claim, but a source later told Page Six that the couple left voluntarily. “He walked the red carpet and then got in his car and left,” the source clarified.
On Monday, Ye addressed the rumors by calling out Lemon in a now-deleted Instagram post. He shared a photo of the former CNN anchor, writing, “This the goofball that started the rumor that me and my wife got kicked out the Grammies [sic].” West also added, “3 decades of innovating music and they always KOONS like this.”
Don Lemon Fires Back
Lemon wasted no time responding to the accusations. In a video posted to Instagram, he firmly denied starting the rumor and instead claimed he worked to correct the misinformation.
“First of all, Kanye … Ye, whatever your name is. I did not start a rumor about you being kicked out of the Grammys. I actually corrected it,” Lemon said in his video. “I saw someone on your team who asked me to correct it because it had been reported everywhere.”
Lemon also took issue with West’s insult. “Get your s–t straight. You, of all people, calling me a coon? … That ‘Make America Great Again’ hat must be too tight on your head,” he added, referencing West’s past public support for Donald Trump.
Before this online spat, Lemon had already attempted to clarify the situation. In another social media clip, he stated that a spokesperson for Ye confirmed the rapper had been invited and was not removed from the event. “That is what they are saying on Kanye’s side,” Lemon reported.
As of now, West has not responded to Lemon’s rebuttal.