OOPS! CNN Missed New Year’s Midnight Countdown Thanks to Don Lemon!

What a perfect moment to capture exactly what’s going on over at failing CNN.

On New Year’s, the network missed the countdown to midnight in the central time zone!

All of the major news networks cover New Years in all the various time zones.

And it appears that this is the first time any major network has missed a midnight countdown!

No wonder CNN’s ratings are tanking!

It looks like the supposed “fixes” aren’t helping anything.

And what a terrible way to ring in the New Year!

Is this a sign of what’s to come for CNN in 2023?

Watch the incredibly embarrassing moment below:

At least we got this. #CNN has botched ringing in the New Year in New Orleans by playing "Back That Azz Up" and #DonLemon missed the New Years countdown because he couldn't hear the producers.#CNNNYE#CNNnewyear pic.twitter.com/VfUkblgBT2

— Dana Abercrombie #AmplifyBlackVoices @ #Urbanworld (@sagesurge) January 1, 2023

CNN has redeemed itself by ringing in the new year in New Orleans with "Back That Azz Up" and not acknowledging the stroke of midnight in any way pic.twitter.com/tieCeHc4sA

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) January 1, 2023

WATCH: @CNN's @DonLemon misses NYE midnight countdown for Central time zone https://t.co/pfanwOPaOp

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 2, 2023

So what happened?

How could CNN possibly miss the most important part of ringing in the New Year?

Apparently Don Lemon was too distracted dancing to “Back That Azz Up.”

This is confirmed by the Daily Caller:

CNN anchor Don Lemon delayed an audience’s celebration by botching the countdown to New Year’s while live on-air in New Orleans.

Lemon was so occupied with dancing to Juvenile’s “Back That Azz Up” while hosting the CNN New Year’s Eve celebration in New Orleans, that he missed the countdown. He began counting down to New Year’s only after the clock had already struck midnight.

While Americans were already celebrating the clock striking midnight, the CNN anchor appeared to tell the audience to “start the countdown.” He continued celebrating with the audience after the New Year had begun.

“That’s how we started!” Lemon said to a cheering crowd. Another voice can be heard saying, “ready for this countdown?” at 12:00 a.m.

On the left hand side of the screen, you can see Don Lemon danging.

On the right hand side of the screen, you can see the countdown happening in Nashville, TN.

Confetti and fireworks fill the sky once the clock hit midnight.

But Don Lemon was still partying away, apparently unaware that the New Year had arrived for millions of Americans.

Fake news #CNN botches the midnight countdown and the new year, while drunk Lemon played and danced to "Back That Azz Up."

Will the other shoe drop on Lemon? Don't hold your breath. The man ticks enough boxes.https://t.co/8yW5eUBleV

— Chukwuma (@ChukwumaOdelugo) January 1, 2023

Amazing work, Don! Just like your daily show..whenever it's on..Is it still on?? Big fan over here! OK, maybe not 😉 https://t.co/AUJTbv1xEC

— Chris Krok (@chriskrokshow) January 2, 2023

Don Lemon's Latest Gaffe. CNN Misses Midnight New Year’s Eve Countdown In Central Time Zone. Hey, it's only a quarter of the country. https://t.co/WF4MSJQQwa via @Yahoo

— John Fund (@johnfund) January 2, 2023

Folks, if Tucker Carlson did this on Fox News, he would be the laughing stock of the media world!

But it appears that CNN may already be getting a pass.

People are excusing Don Lemon.

Deadline is reporting that it may have been due to technical difficulties:

Network host Don Lemon was busy dancing to Juvenile’s sentimental “Back That Azz Up” and missed the changeover into the new year.

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Lemon was busy throwing beads to his fellow dancers, then mumbled something about the countdown just after midnight. As the song continued, viewers were treated to shots of celebrations elsewhere in the Central time zone, all as New Orleans seemed oblivious to the moment.

What caused the disconnect is unclear. There were some social media posts indicating Lemon may have had some trouble hearing producers throughout the broadcast.

So what do you think?

Is it due to technical difficulties?

Or is this a sign of larger issues at the struggling network?

Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!