Andy Cohen, Billy Baldwin and more stars react to Don Lemon arrest over Minnesota church protest

Hollywood weighed in after Don Lemon was arrested Friday in connection with a protest that disrupted a church service in Minnesota.

The former CNN anchor was taken into custody by federal agents in Los Angeles over his role in a January demonstration at a St. Paul church, which he insists he was covering as a journalist.

Lemon has been charged with conspiring to deprive others of their civil rights and violating the FACE Act by allegedly obstructing access to a house of worship, a move his lawyer slammed as an 'unprecedented attack on the First Amendment.'

The arrest quickly ignited outrage across Tinseltown.

Bravo boss Andy Cohen was among the most vocal, pointedly invoking the fatal shootings of Minnesota protesters Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti.

‘They arrested Don and not the guys who murdered protesters?’ Cohen tweeted.

Actor Josh Gad added a fiery take, warning that authorities are pushing citizens too far.

‘What’s the BREAKING POINT? They want you to be a frog in boiling water. When people are arrested for First Amendment protected activity or shot execution style for exercising their Second Amendment rights, it’s time to STOP being a frog & start being an enraged citizen who says “NO. F*** THIS. I will not remain idle,"' he wrote on X.

Kathy Griffin chimed in, 'Do you guys really, really get it? It doesn’t matter if you’re a Democrat, Republican or just a hater, it’s dangerous for YOU that Don Lemon and OTHER journalists have been ARRESTED.'

Billy Baldwin posted simply, 'Free Don Lemon.' 

Newscaster Jemele Hill called the arrest 'horrifying' and emphasized that it transcends political or professional lines.

‘They arrested Don Lemon. This is horrifying. I don’t care what your political beliefs or leanings are, what journalism outlet you represent, this absolutely cannot stand.’

Some voices sided with the authorities, however.

Megyn Kelly tweeted: ‘For those saying this is criminalizing journalism, journalists don’t get a pass when breaking the law just bc they have a mic. 

'If I accompanied ppl storming an abortion clinic harassing/scaring/“traumatizing” the crying women while saying “But I’m a reporter!” I would absolutely have been charged under any Dem admin.’

Actor James Woods added a meme, captioning it: ‘As you all know, I started this whole thing when I called arrestee Don Lemon a “dingleberry on the ass of American journalism” on @MegynKellyShow.’

Lemon and three others were taken into custody Friday after a protest at a Minnesota church opposing immigration enforcement, an event that stirred tension between local residents and federal authorities. 

Federal agents arrested Lemon in Los Angeles, where he was covering the Grammy Awards, according to his lawyer Lowell. 

Details about the exact charges against Lemon and the others involved in the Jan. 18 demonstration at Cities Church in St. Paul - pastored by a local ICE official - remain unclear.

Lemon, who was let go from CNN in 2023, has insisted he had no ties to the group that entered the church, emphasising he was reporting on the protest as a journalist.

‘Don has spent 30 years reporting, and his work in Minneapolis was no different,’ Lowell said. ‘The First Amendment protects journalists exposing the truth and holding those in power accountable.’

Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the arrests on social media, naming Lemon along with Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy. 

‘At my direction, federal agents took these individuals into custody this morning in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church,’ she wrote.

 Since leaving CNN, Lemon has built a career posting content independently on YouTube, often openly criticising former President Donald Trump. 

Yet during his coverage at the church, he repeatedly stressed, ‘I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist,’ reporting on the scene and speaking with both churchgoers and demonstrators.

A magistrate previously denied prosecutors’ initial effort to press charges against him, but Lemon warned on his show that authorities might try again. 

‘And guess what?’ he said. ‘Here I am. Keep trying. That won’t stop me from doing my job. It won’t silence my voice. Go ahead - make me the new Jimmy Kimmel if you want. I’m not going anywhere.’