Don Lemon makes unemployment look good at a ritzy Hamptons restaurant with his fiancé Tim Malone and his partner’s parents.
Lemon, 57, dressed casually for a dinner out with Malone, 39, and his parents Richard and Joanne Malone on Thursday evening.
The former CNN anchor, who was let go from the network two weeks ago, is enjoying the warmer weather, wearing a pair of light linen pants and a sky-blue button-down shirt. He left his eyeglasses hanging from his shirt pocket as he walked toward their car.
Malone matched his long-time partner, wearing a similar pair of white pants, a white t-shirt, and topped with a denim jacket.
Don Lemon makes unemployment look good at a ritzy Hamptons restaurant with his fiancé Tim Malone and his partner’s parents
The former CNN anchor enjoyed the summer weather, wearing a pair of light linen pants and a sky-blue button-down shirt. He left his eyeglasses hanging from his shirt pocket as he walked toward their car
Malone looked shocked to see photographers waiting outside the restaurant while Lemon seemed to be a bit irritated.
Malone’s parents were only a few paces behind and seemingly didn’t notice as Joanne pointed to something off camera to Richard.
Joanne sported a similar style to Lemon and her son, while Richard opted for dark tones, wearing a black sweater and jeans.
Before parting ways, Lemon took a moment to embrace Joanne before getting into his vehicle.
Lemon sensationally sacked by CNN on Monday amid a furious controversy over his ‘sexist’ and ‘misogynistic’ behavior – and now, a source has laid bare the toll that his ousting has had on his relationship.
DailyMail.com spoke exclusively to a friend of Tim, who said that the scandal has ‘definitely been a bump in the road’ for the couple – particularly as Lemon had been warned by his fiancé to ‘cool down’ his on-air rants.
Before parting ways, Lemon took a moment to embrace Joanne before getting into his vehicle
Joanne cut a similar outfit to Lemon and her son, wearing white pants and denim jacket
‘He told Don many times to just cool it down and go with the flow, but Don is not the type of person to listen,’ the source revealed. ‘He pushes the boundaries in every facet of his life and this show was no different.’
In February, Don pushed the boundaries too far when he said that Presidential candidate Nikki Haley was ‘past her prime’ at the age of 51, before claiming that ‘a woman is considered to be in their prime in their 20s and 30s and maybe 40s’ – telling his stunned female co-hosts to ‘Google it.’
The sexist remark, which led to co-host Poppy Harlow, 41, storming off set, had Don taken off-air for three days and caused a tidal wave of backlash – especially from female staffers who demanded he be fired.
However, while Don’s axing has caused friction between him and his partner, the insider adds that Tim is sticking by the former CNN anchor and ‘knows that he is not misogynistic’.
The source continued: ‘[Tim] says that [Don] is just gay with a very dry, harsh and sarcastic sense of humor.’
Lemon seemed irritated to be followed by paparazzi after enjoying his dinner
Malone matched his long-time partner, wearing a similar pair of white pants, a white t-shirt, and topped with a denim jacket
Lemon sensationally sacked by CNN on Monday amid a furious controversy over his ‘sexist’ and ‘misogynistic’ behavior
In fact, once the pair overcame the shock of Don’s sacking, they began to get ‘excited’ about the prospect of having more time together, the insider shared.
‘To be honest, they are actually kind of excited that Don gets to be home with their dogs now, as their dogs are their life,’ the pal shared. ‘Tim has said that now Don gets to play house-husband.
‘Tim says that Don was not happy there for a while and that he was worked to the bone. This is a much needed break for him.’
Don and Tim got engaged five years ago, in April 2019. Tim proposed to Don on his own birthday with dog tags worn by their beloved dogs Barkley and Boomer. The tags were engraved with the words, ‘Daddy will you marry papa?’
The pair can also certainly afford for Don to take a break from his on-air career; Page Six reported that the ex-anchor walked away from CNN with a ‘$25 million payout’ and that he has ‘lawyered up’ in the event that he decides to pursue a lawsuit against the network over his firing.
A source told the outlet ‘Don was signed on a high seven-figure deal for the morning show last September, and is assured by CNN he will be paid the remainder of his contract, which runs until 2026.’
Lemon spent 17 years at CNN before being fired in April
DailyMail.com spoke to a second source who works in New York City real estate with Don’s longtime fiancé – who said that the many millions Don ends up with is actually irrelevant to Tim, who has made millions of his own over the years.
‘This will not even slightly hurt them financially,’ the housing insider says. ‘Tim is an incredibly wealthy man who has made millions in real estate.
‘He is one of the top in the city and they have enough money saved between the two of them to live for years.’
The industry source added, ‘Even if Don never works again, Tim would be able to financially carry them and be comfortable,’ the source says.
‘He wants Don to take some time off and relax because everyone who knows him knows he has been way high strung these past couple of months.’
‘He is not a bad guy; he just says whatever the f**k he wants in and out of work and is used to getting his way all the time.’
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk