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Don Lemon is demanding “respect” from Kanye West after the controversial rapper called him a “koon” for allegedly starting the rumor that he and Bianca Censori were kicked out of the Grammys.
“He got on social media and he called me [a koon], I was like, ‘C’mon man, we’re both black men. You know what that word means in our community. Have some respect,’” the news anchor tells Page Six at Thursday’s 14th Annual NFL Honors in New Orleans.
Lemon clarifies that he took to social media to share the rumor that West and the former Yeezy architect had been kicked out of Sunday night’s awards show. He, however, didn’t see the confrontation himself — he was just sharing what he heard.
The CNN alum, 58, also recalls how West, 47, brushed him off during an interview ahead of his and Censori’s risqué red carpet appearance, saying the “Heartless” emcee might have been “in a bad mood.”
“When I tried to interview him, he goes, ‘I’m trying to focus. No interviews,’” he explains.
Shortly after, the couple walked the red carpet and Censori, 30, turned heads when she took off a thick black coat to reveal a see-through dress underneath.
Lemon tells us he’s never experienced anything like the “Bound 2” rapper and the Australian beauty’s stunt at the Grammys.
“Kanye’s a master marketer. He’s a master promoter, so I’m surprised but not surprised. I’m not surprised that he pulled a stunt. I’m just surprised that there was a lot of nudity involved,” he says.
On Sunday, sources told Page Six that West and Censori were escorted out of the awards show after “the crazy outfit moment they pulled on the carpet.”
Another insider told us that the trick was an attempt to recreate the “Runaway” hitmaker’s 2024 cover artwork for his “Vultures” album.
The rumor that West got kicked out of the Grammys didn’t sit well with him, and he took to Instagram to blame Lemon.
“This the goofball that started the rumor that me and my wife got kicked out the Grammies [sic],” the 24-time Grammy winner wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the TV personality.
“3 decades of innovating music and they always KOONS like this.”
Lemon, meanwhile, refuted West’s allegations via social media, saying in a video, “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.
“I saw someone on your team who asked me to correct it because it had been reported everywhere.”
“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,” Lemon added, referring to West’s past support for President Trump.
