CNN host Don Lemon got emotional while talking about a family member’s sexual assault.
Lemon just returned to CNN after a week off yesterday, and during this past week several women came forward with accusations of sexual assault against Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, and conservatives have attacked the alleged victims and minimized their stories.
Lemon first brought up how he talked about being the victim of sexual assault several years ago and related it to attacks on Christine Ford, one of the women who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault.
“Why is it so hard to talk about? Well, part of it is fear,” he said. “And part of it is doubt. Will I be believed? Will I be blamed? Will I have evidence? Do I have to relive what happened? Will everyone judge me? And if I speak out will it even matter?”
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Related: A ‘family values’ politician has been accused of sexual assault on a teen boy
He went on to say that, during his week off, a close family member told him that she, too, is a victim of sexual assault.
“Out of the blue she texted me and she said, this is a quote, ‘I believe her because I am a product of the #metoo movement,’” he recalled.
“And I texted right back and I said, ‘What? No way. Why didn’t you say anything?’ And she replied, ‘Shame. I thought he loved me.’”
While the banner on the segment says that his point is “Hear both sides,” his actual point was more “Listen to victims when they come forward.”
