"Well, Don, it's not about race as you like to make it," talk radio host John Fredericks started off saying in a panel discussion on Thursday's Don Lemon show. "That's easy and lazy. It's about economics."
The panel was attempting to have a nuanced conversation about President Donald Trump's comments that he didn't want immigrants coming to America from "sh*thole countries" like Haiti and countries in Africa.
Fellow panelist Rick Wilson audibly gasped, his chin falling open in shock.
Lemon paused and noted that he was simply giving Fredericks "his time," before shutting him down.
"You know, you called on me so let me finish," Fredericks said with righteous indignation.
"You know what, you know what, John Fredericks," Lemon cut in. "John, until that last comment."
"Are you going to cut me off?" Fredericks said talking over the host.
"Yeah, we're going to cut you off," Lemon gestured to the control booth and asked that the panelist be cut from the broadcast. "First of all, I was going to let him speak until you doubly insulted me. I don't even need to respond to the lazy comment. I laid it all out in the thing. We can have this conversation and we don't need someone who's going to make excuses for racism."
Lemon then turned to speak to Charles Blow. Several moments later, Fredericks was back but Lemon was demanding an apology.
"I'll be damned if I'm going to let you sit here and insult me," Lemon said.
When he came back, Fredericks still refused to be polite and the conversation devolved into another argument.
Watch the full discussion below:
