From a CNN spokeswoman: "Don will not face any disciplinary actions."
A CNN spokeswoman has not responded to an email from BuzzFeed News asking for a comment. But on Wednesday afternoon, Lemon apologized on the air. In a video posted by Mediaite, Lemon said: "As a victim myself I would never want to suggest that any victim could have prevented a rape. If my question struck anyone as insensitive, I’m sorry as that was not my intention.”
On Tuesday's CNN Tonight, anchor Don Lemon interviewed Joan Tarshis, who on Monday alleged that Bill Cosby raped her twice in 1969.
View this video on YouTube
While going through the details she is alleging, Lemon asked Tarshis about telling Cosby that she had an infection he would get if he forced her into having intercourse. Tarshis says that Cosby made her perform oral sex instead. Lemon told Tarshis, "You know, there are ways not to perform oral sex if you didn't want to do it." Tarshis reponded that she was impaired — "I was kind of stoned at the time" — and did not think about it at the time. Lemon then asked, "Meaning the using of the teeth, right?" She said, "Yeah, I didn't even think of it." Lemon said, "I had to ask."
Twitter did not think Lemon had to ask. In response to his use of an argument that is generally perceived as victim-blaming, Twitter users created the hashtag #DonLemonReporting.
President Lincoln could've been at the White House working, not gallivanting off to a play. #DonLemonReporting
Why didnt New Orleans move out the way of Katrina? Was it really Katrina's fault New Orleans was in the way ? #DonLemonReporting
"I feel like the citizens of Pompeii were trying to get burned alive by molten lava. That's my take." #DonLemonReporting
#DonLemonReporting "This just in! Had Africans not gone on those ships, they wouldn't have been lucky enough to come to america, land/free?"