The "bromance" was the stuff of cable news legend. Every night on CNN, like clockwork, Chris Cuomo would wrap up his 9 p.m. slot and toss the baton to Don Lemon. It wasn't just a standard handoff. It was ten minutes of singing, teasing, and "I love you, brother" declarations that made viewers feel like they were eavesdropping on two best friends at a bar. They even launched a podcast literally called The Handoff.
But that was then.
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Today, the airwaves look a lot different. Cuomo is over at NewsNation, and Lemon is navigating the world of independent digital media after his own rocky exit from the network. If you're looking for the short answer to the question: are Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon still friends, the reality is pretty cold. They aren't. Not really.
The Slow Fade and the Big Freeze
It’s easy to assume that when two people are that close on camera, it translates to real life. For a while, it did. They lived near each other in the Hamptons. Their families hung out. But things started to sour the moment the legal papers started flying.
When CNN fired Chris Cuomo in December 2021, the silence from Lemon was deafening. While Lemon had initially defended Cuomo during the early stages of the Andrew Cuomo scandal, things shifted once Chris was officially out. On his first night back after the firing, Lemon didn't even mention Cuomo's name. He just moved on to the next guy in the chair.
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That hurt. Honestly, wouldn't it?
Why the Friendship Actually Died
Cuomo hasn't exactly been shy about his feelings lately. In a 2024 interview on the PBD Podcast, Chris basically pulled the curtain back on the whole "bromance" era. He suggested that a lot of that nightly banter was actually the brainchild of former CNN boss Jeff Zucker. Zucker apparently told Cuomo he needed to stay on air for the handoff to "mitigate" whatever might come out of Lemon’s mouth.
Cuomo’s take now? It was a job.
But the real knife in the back happened during Cuomo’s $125 million wrongful termination lawsuit against CNN. In those filings, Cuomo’s legal team pointed fingers at other CNN anchors—including Lemon—arguing that they had committed similar journalistic "sins" but weren't fired. Specifically, he brought up Lemon’s involvement in the Jussie Smollett case, noting that Lemon had allegedly texted Smollett to warn him the police didn't believe his story.
When you start using your "brother's" alleged misconduct as a legal shield to get a payout, the Christmas card list usually gets trimmed.
Don Lemon’s Side of the Story
Lemon has been slightly more diplomatic, but the distance is still there. In a Mediaite interview, he admitted they haven't spoken in a long time. He framed it as "needing a break." He still claims to love Cuomo's family, but the "ride or die" energy is gone.
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Cuomo, for his part, has doubled down on the idea of loyalty. He’s essentially said that if someone doesn't have your back when you’re down, they weren't your friend to begin with. He’s a "loyalty guy," and in his eyes, Lemon failed the test.
Where They Stand in 2026
Basically, they’ve become two guys who used to work together. There’s no evidence of them texting, visiting, or even liking each other's Instagram posts.
- Communication: Non-existent.
- Public Sentiment: Cuomo is openly critical of the "fake" nature of their TV bond; Lemon is quiet but distant.
- Legal Scars: The $125 million lawsuit created a permanent rift that most friendships can't survive.
It’s a classic case of "work friends" vs. "real friends." When the office burns down, you find out very quickly who is willing to stand in the smoke with you. For Chris and Don, the fire at CNN was enough to melt the friendship for good.
What This Means for You
If you’re watching old clips and feeling nostalgic for their chemistry, enjoy them for what they were: great television. But don't expect a reunion podcast anytime soon. The lesson here is pretty simple—industry friendships are often built on the foundation of a shared boss and a shared paycheck. Once those are gone, the foundation usually crumbles.
If you want to keep up with them now, you’ll have to flip between NewsNation and YouTube. They’re moving in completely different orbits, and it doesn't look like those paths are going to cross again.
To see how their careers have diverged, you can look into Cuomo’s shift toward middle-of-the-road "independent" reporting at NewsNation versus Lemon’s more commentary-heavy approach on his own digital platforms. Their falling out isn't just a personal drama; it’s a reflection of how the entire media landscape has fractured since their time at the top of the CNN mountain.