Hot News: CNN's Don Lemon under fire for Ferguson reporting

JIM YOUNG/REUTERS

On Tuesday, everyone is talking about racism, violence, justice - and what ding-a-ling CNN's Don Lemon is.

As Ferguson erupted into anger, bullets and flames Monday night, Lemon ham-handedly drew tear gas into his own gas mask, whined for water and a device to contact his producers, and then made a culturally insensitive comment about protesters smoking pot.

Wednesday Lemon was further blasted by critics online for imitating the 'St. Louis accent' and for retreating to a 'safe room' while other CNN reporters stayed out on the scene.

But it was his useless observation that he smelled drugs in the air that polarized critics.

CNN

'Maybe a minute, two minutes ago we heard a gunshot and watched people scattering,' Lemon said. 'And we're watching people on the roofs of cars, on the tops of cars and, er,... Obviously there's a smell of marijuana here as well.'

The latest dose of sour Lemon-aide came just after the anchor was raked over the coals for insinuating that one of Bill Cosby's alleged sexual assault victims should have bitten the comic instead of performing oral sex.

He later had to apologize.

Anderson Cooper/ CNN reporters putting this is perspective 'almost everyone is peaceful'.. Don lemon 'obviously I smell Marijuana ' wtf- Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) November 25, 2014

Another recent Lemon gem included suggesting that the missing Malaysian airliner, flight 370, might have disappeared into a black hole.

As buildings were torched, gunshots sent protesters scattering through the streets amid rampant looting. The police reacted with more violence, firing rubber bullets at protesters and emptying canisters of tear gas.

The violence was at a full pitch when CNN's Chris Cuomo tried to turn the broadcast over to Lemon who was wearing a gas mask on his forehead. Lemon then trapped gas in his own mask, began coughing and asked for water. Moments later, Cuomo tried Lemon again, but this time the anchor heard on air saying, 'I need IFB (a device to communicate with producers). Someone make a phone call.'

At what instance is the stench of marijuana being in the air pertinent information don lemon sheesh smh- Erik Kynard Jr. (@Erik_Kynard) November 25, 2014

Lemon was blasted for his on air behavior on Twitter - most specifically his observation that protesters smelled like marijuana - but also for his general incompetence.

'Don lemon 'obviously I smell Marijuana' wtf' wrote hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons.

Anderson Cooper/ CNN reporters putting this is perspective 'almost everyone is peaceful'.. Don lemon 'obviously I smell Marijuana ' wtf,' he posted.

CNN'd Don Lemon said 'obviously the smell of marijuana in the crowd'. This from the guy who blamed Cosby rape victim for her assault. #idiot- Peter Grosz (@petergrosz) November 25, 2014

Random viewers were equally incensed by Lemon's antics.

'At what instance is the stench of marijuana being in the air pertinent information don lemon sheesh smh,' tweeted Erik Kynard.

Don Lemon is a disgrace and he does more harm than good to the situation. He doesn't speak for me and I think he needs to be pulled from CNN- Shanel Stockman (@blacksapphire29) November 25, 2014

'This from the guy who blamed Cosby rape victim for her assault. #idiot,' added Peter Grosz.

'Don Lemon is a disgrace,' summarized Shanel Stockman. 'He doesn't speak for me and I think he needs to be pulled from CNN.'

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