DON LEMON: CNN Anchor Tells Alleged Cosby Rape Victim She Could Have Prevented Assault

CNN anchor Don Lemon sure put his foot in his mouth while interviewing one of Bill Cosby’s alleged rape victim today (Wednesday).

Joan Tarshis claims the comedian drugged and raped her twice in 1969 when she was 19 years old. The former actress and publicist said she tried to stop the assault by telling Cosby that she had an infection, which prompted the TV dad instead allegedly to force her to perform oral sex. That prompted Lemon to question whether Tarshis could have prevented the assault. He said, "You know, there are ways not to perform oral sex if you didn’t want to do it." Tarshis responded by saying, "I was kind of stoned at the time, and quite honestly, that didn’t even enter my mind. Now I wish it would have." But Lemon didn’t end there. He added, "Meaning the using of the teeth, right? As a weapon."

That exchange didn't sit well with viewers, who blasted Lemon on social media for being “insensitive” and “offensive.” The hashtag #DonLemonReporting has since become a trending topic on Twitter. 

Lemon has since apologized for his remarks, saying, "As a victim myself I would never want to suggest that any victim could have prevented a rape. If my question struck anyone as insensitive, I’m sorry as that was not my intention." Four years ago, Lemon revealed that he'd been molested as a child.