Don Lemon; Kanye West and Bianca Censori — 2025 Grammys. Photo:
Kevin Mazur/Getty; Jon Kopaloff/WireImage
Don Lemon is speaking out after Kanye West accused him of spreading a rumor about the rapper.
In a video posted to his YouTube channel Monday, Feb. 3, the former CNN anchor, 58, denied having anything to do with reports that the 808s & Heartbreak artist, 47, and his wife Bianca Censori, 30, were kicked out of the 2025 Grammys the night before.
Warning: Lemon’s video contains profanity and a racial slur.
“First of all, Kanye, Yee, Ye, whatever your name is — I did not start a rumor about you being kicked out of the Grammys,” Lemon said. “I actually corrected it.”
Don Lemon responds to Kanye West. Don Lemon/YouTube
The journalist continued, “I saw someone on your team who asked me to correct it because it had been reported everywhere.”
Lemon insisted that West “get all your s— straight.”
“And you, of all people, calling me a c–n?” he said, pausing to laugh before becoming serious again. “Negro, that Make America Great Again hat must be too tight on your head.”
Lemon’s video was in response to West’s since-deleted Instagram post, which showed a photo of Lemon. West wrote in the caption, “This goofball that started the rumor that me and my wife got kicked out the Grammies [sic]. 3 decades of innovating music and they always K–NS like this.”
Don Lemon and Harvey Mason Jr., CEO, MusicCares & Recording Academy — 2025 Grammys. Emma McIntyre/Getty
While at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 2, Lemon posted an Instagram Reels from his seat inside where he attempted to explain the chatter surrounding the Yeezy founder’s first time attending the Grammys in 10 years.
“I’m hearing that Kanye wanted to do the red carpet, that he wasn’t invited — that’s what I’m hearing from the folks here at the Grammys. And then, uh, he left, maybe he was escorted out,” Lemon said.
“That’s what folks are saying, but I’m not sure. I think maybe he just wanted to do the carpet, but he definitely is gone. I may be the only person who interviewed him, by the way,” he continued.
In addition to West’s rare appearance, the buzzy moment became even bigger when West and his wife Censori walked the red carpet.
While standing in front of a row of photographers, the couple posed for pictures in what seemed to be coordinating black looks.
Kanye West and Bianca Censori, 2025 Grammys. Frazer Harrison/Getty
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Seconds later, the Australian model dropped her fur coat to the ground, revealing a completely nude mesh mini dress. Censori did not wear a bra or underwear with the garment.
West was nominated in the best rap song category for “Carnival,” which appears on his album Vultures 1. He lost to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
