Elon Musk canceled Don Lemon’s new exclusive TV show on X before it even started, according to a statement from Lemon on Wednesday. The former CNN host says Elon Musk didn’t like his interview with Lemon, so Musk canceled their partnership just hours after the conversation concluded.
“Apparently, free speech absolutism doesn’t apply when it comes to questions about him from people like me,” said Lemon in a video on X posted Wednesday. “This does not change anything about the show, except for my relationship with Elon and X.”
Lemon says he will still post the interview on X, YouTube, and other platforms on Monday, March 18th. The Don Lemon Show was slated to premiere on X this spring alongside a roster of other controversial show hosts, including Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and sports commentator Jim Rome. It’s part of Elon Musk’s push into video, as CEO Linda Yaccarino says “X is becoming a video first platform.” However, Lemon will no longer be part of this push, as Musk sent his representatives a message saying “contract terminated,” first reported by Kara Swisher.
However, Lemon reportedly never signed the contract to begin with, according to Semafor. Even though the deal had been publicly announced, both parties reportedly stalled on signing a contract for weeks. Elon Musk and X could argue that it owes nothing to the former CNN host, though Lemon’s legal team told Semafor it’s willing to go to court over the payment.
“There were no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to, and my questions were respectful and wide-ranging,” said Lemon in a statement. The interview reportedly broached the subject of Elon Musk’s ketamine use, SpaceX, free speech, and the presidential election. “We had a good conversation. Clearly he felt differently,” said Lemon.
Musk says he terminated the deal because Lemon wanted to create “CNN, but on social media.” He continued that Lemon wasn’t being genuinely himself, and “was really just Jeff Zucker (former president of CNN) talking through Don, so lacked authenticity,” in a tweet on X. However, Musk confirmed Lemon is welcome to build viewership on the platform.
Lemon, a television veteran of 17 years who CNN fired in 2023, says many people told him something like this would happen with Elon, but he didn’t listen. “Many of you were not happy that I was doing this in the first place,” he continued in the video. He said he went through with it to reach the largest number of people possible. Lemon says he is now “doubling down” on his commitment to free speech, even as Elon “goes back on his word.”
The Don Lemon Show will still produce episodes and release them on YouTube. It’s unclear at this time if X will have to pay out Don Lemon, though it won’t get his exclusive TV show.
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