As Bishop Eddie Long addressed his congregation for the fist time since the sexual abuse scandal broke, a CNN anchor surprisingly announces his own abuse secret on live television. INSIDE EDITION has the story.
A shocking moment on live TV as a CNN anchor reveals a secret from his past.
Anchorman Don Lemon said, "I have never admitted this on television. I'm the victim of a pedophile when I was a kid. Someone who was much older than me."
Lemon made the admission in the middle of an interview about Bishop Eddie Long, the megachurch leader accused of sexually abusing four young men
"I didn't tell my mom that until I was 30-years-old. The things these men were talking about, men don't want to, especially African American men, men don't want to talk about," said Lemon.
Afterwards Lemon tweeted: "I had no idea I'd say that on national TV. It just came out. Sadly, it's the truth for so many young men."
Barbara Walters said on The View, "It was obviously a very emotional moment, and it shows again, what he is talking about. This was somone who was his mentor. Again, the hypocracy of it."
The CNN anchor's revelation came as 8,000 members of Bishop Long's congregation packed his Atlanta megachurch, and gave him a standing ovation.
Long made his first appearance since the scandal broke last week, holding his wife's hand. He also held an iPad while delivering his Sunday sermon.
Long said, "I'm not a perfect man, but this thing, I'm gonna fight."
Saying his lawyers advised him not to, Long didn't comment directly on the allegations, or on the cell phone pictures he allegedly took of himself in tight workout clothes and texted one of the men now suing him.
Long said, "I feel like David against Goliath. But I've got five rocks and I haven't thrown one yet."
Church members INSIDE EDITION spoke to had mixed reaction.
"Do we know if its true or not? No, we don't. We're praying it's not true," said one church member.
"He wants to try it in the courts and has every right to do so rather than go through mudslinging between him and the accusers," said another church member.
CNN contributor Roland Martin said he thinks Long should step down while the investigation goes forward, saying, "I was surprised he did not take a stronger stance by stating 'I am innocent, I did not do any of the things being said about me.' "
