Don Lemon opened up last week in his first interview since his April firing from CNN in which he appears to take a shot at the network and Donald Trump

Lemon appeared on ABC Memphis and pointed out CNN’s “dereliction of journalistic duty.”

“I don’t believe in platforming liars and bigots, insurrectionists and election deniers and putting them on the same footing as people who are telling the truth; people who are fighting for what’s right, people who are abiding by the constitution,” Lemon said.

“I think that would be a dereliction of journalistic duty to do those sorts of things.”

He was asked about concerns for him over his CNN departure.

“I have a responsibility, not only as a journalist but as an American, to tell the truth and to abide by the promises of the Constitution — because the Constitution says a more perfect union, not a perfect union,” Lemon said

“I’m not a perfect person, no one is. In order to fulfill the promise of the Constitution, we have to stand up for what is right. We have to stand up for the truth.”

In April, CNN fired Lemon, who tweeted he was “stunned” by the move.

“I was informed this morning by my agent that I have been terminated by CNN. I am stunned. After 17 years at CNN I would have thought that someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly,” Lemon wrote.

“It is clear that there are some larger issues at play.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.