Don Lemon is said to be acting like a total ‘bridezilla’ ahead of his wedding to long-term partner Tim Malone this Saturday, with insiders claiming he’s micromanaging his guests in a desperate bid to have a ‘perfect’ big day .
Tensions are believed to be bubbling behind the scenes as the former CNN anchor, 58, prepares to marry Tim, 39, at Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar on April 6, half a decade after they tied the knot. they committed.
Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, a source close to the couple revealed that Tim is so unsure of what he will say in his vows that he has been joking about turning to AI technology for help.
“They’re a nervous wreck at the moment and Don is being a bit of a bridezilla because he wanted this perfect fairytale marriage, and he’s micromanaging everyone,” a source told DailyMail.com.
Don Lemon is said to be acting like a ‘bridezilla’ ahead of his wedding to partner Tim Malone
The former CNN anchor, 58, will marry Tim, 39, at Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar on Saturday.
Sharing details about their big day, which will be an intimate ceremony with their nearest and dearest, the source continued: “They will both be wearing matching suits with different lapels.
‘It won’t be a very religious ceremony, but they have written vows that they will read to each other.
‘Tim was joking with his coworkers that he would use ChatGPT to write his own.
‘Several of Tim’s coworkers at Douglas Elliman will be there.
“Your dogs are also expected to be a part of the ceremony just as they were of your engagement.”
DailyMail.com has contacted the couple for comment.
Don and Tim’s intimate ceremony comes eight years after the couple began dating after meeting at the Almond restaurant in Bridgehampton, New York, and five years after they got engaged.
The duo have been engaged since 2019, but were forced to postpone their nuptials amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The couple, who first met at the Almond restaurant in Bridgehampton, will make sure their dogs are a big part of their ceremony, according to sources.
Don and Tim, who work in real estate, went public with their relationship when they called it quits in 2018 with an on-air kiss during CNN’s live New Year’s Eve broadcast.
The following year, the duo became engaged when Tim proposed to Don on his birthday with the help of their beloved dogs Barkley and Boomer.
The two dogs wore dog tags engraved with the question: ‘Dad, will you marry dad?’
After their engagement, Don, who came out as gay in his 2011 memoir, Transparent, told CNN viewers: “I grew up thinking I would never be able to go public with my relationships, much less get legally married.”
“So for me this is doubly exciting and a little bit scary. I guess I have to start thinking about the kids. Talk about a late bloomer.
It was previously reported that Don’s ouster from CNN in April 2023 sparked “discussions” between the lovebirds.
The veteran presenter was sensationally sacked amid furious controversy over his “sexist” and “misogynistic” behaviour.
DailyMail.com spoke exclusively to a friend of Tim’s, who said at the time that the scandal had “definitely been a bump in the road” for the couple, particularly as his fiancé had warned Don to “cool down” their on-air conversation . rants.
Don and Tim began dating in 2016 and went public with their relationship when they kissed while celebrating New Year’s in 2018.
Former CNN anchor Don was unceremoniously fired after 17 years at the station last April.
“He told Don many times to calm down and go with the flow, but Don is not the type of person who listens,” the source revealed. “He pushes boundaries in every facet of his life and this show was no different.”
In February 2023, Don crossed the line too far when he said that presidential candidate Nikki Haley was “past her prime” at the age of 51.
She then claimed that “a woman is considered to be in her prime in her 20s, 30s and maybe 40s” before telling her stunned co-hosts to “Google it.”
The sexist comment, which prompted co-host Poppy Harlow, 41, to storm off the set, saw Don taken off the air for three days and sparked a wave of backlash, especially from female staff who demanded he be removed. they fired
However, while Don’s firing has reportedly caused friction between him and his partner, the source added that Tim stood by the former CNN host and “knows he’s not a misogynist.”
‘[Tim] say what [Don] “He’s just gay with a very dry, tough and sarcastic sense of humor,” they said at the time.
In fact, once the couple got over the shock of Don’s firing, they began to get “excited” about the prospect of spending more time together.
“To be honest, they are actually very excited that Don can be home with his dogs now, since his dogs are his life,” they added. ‘Tim has said that now Don will be able to play the husband of the house.
‘Tim says Don wasn’t happy there for a while and he worked himself to the bone. “This is a much-needed break for him.”