Last week, Gary Dell’Abate, a producer for Howard Stern and a long-time advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness, received the Elizabeth Taylor Commitment to End AIDS Award at the third annual New York Dinner hosted by the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.
At the same event, Rosie Perez was also honored. Former CNN journalist Don Lemon, who hosted the evening, was photographed alongside Dell’Abate. However, in some pictures, Dell’Abate was mistakenly identified as Lemon’s husband, Tim Malone, whom Lemon married in 2024.
This mix-up quickly became a topic of discussion on Stern’s Sirius/XM show on May 12. Stern poked fun at his producer over the error, teasing Dell’Abate about the incorrect caption.
Dell’Abate took the situation in stride, posting the same photo with Lemon on his Instagram on Monday. In the caption, he joked, “It was such a thrill being honored last week by The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. Here I am pictured with my husband, Don Lemon. Tune into this morning’s Howard Stern Wrap Up Show to hear about how Don and I became husbands…”
While some fans humorously commented on the post, others took the opportunity to commend Dell’Abate for his dedicated work in raising funds and awareness in the fight against AIDS. One fan reminded others of Dell’Abate’s personal connection to the cause, writing, “His brother died of AIDS. He estimates he’s raised $1M. What’s your problem?”
Another supporter praised Dell’Abate, calling him an “incredible human being.”
Dell’Abate’s advocacy work began after the death of his brother Steven from AIDS in January 1991. He later became a key supporter of LIFEbeat: The Music Industry Fights AIDS and served as its president. In 2024, LIFEbeat merged with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, continuing Dell’Abate’s impactful work in the fight against the disease.
