Don Lemon Kisses Boyfriend in Roaring New Year Broadcast

The CNN anchor was adored by social media for letting loose on national television.

Lucas Grindley

Lucas Grindley is VP and Editorial Director for Here Media, which is parent company to The Advocate. His Twitter account is filled with politics, Philip Glass appreciation, and adorable photos of his twin toddler daughters.

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Lucas Grindley

January 01 2018 7:46 AM EST

October 31 2024 6:31 AM EST

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Don Lemon hosted the second half of CNN's New Year's Eve coverage and the hashtag #drunkdonlemon was born.

By the end of the night, Lemon had done multiple shots, sang off key, led a marching band, and kissed his boyfriend -- all on live television alongside co-host Brooke Baldwin. People seemed to love it.

\u201cMay you live everyday like New Years Eve Don Lemon in 2018.\u201d
— Matthew A. Cherry (@Matthew A. Cherry) 1514789553

The Advocate named Lemon a finalist for Person of the Year for the way he's handled recurring attacks by President Trump, providing a source of pride for people of color who are so often the subject of Trump's vitriol. Lemon seems to be enjoying life. At one point, while Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen were hosting the primetime portion of the night, Lemon and Baldwin were joined live in New Orleans by a man who asked his girlfriend to marry him.

"She said yes!" shouted Baldwin.

But it was Lemon's own love story that stole hearts as we rung in 2018. Watch him tell the story of how he celebrated in New Orleans with his boyfriend, Tim Malone, one year earlier.

— (@)

The story was followed by a kiss.

\u201cDon Lemon kissing his boyfriend - whom he met last year in same bar - live on #CNNNYE \ud83d\udc9c Love is real in 2018!\u201d
— Jillian Sederholm (@Jillian Sederholm) 1514787057

In case it wasn't clear -- for whatever reason -- a slight clarification of the story came later on Twitter, after Lemon wasn't enthralled by the festivities of the night.