Owner of the social media platform X (fka Twitter) Elon Musk has abruptly canceled “The Don Lemon Show” on the platform. The decision came after former CNN anchor Don Lemon recorded an interview with the billionaire for the show’s as-yet unaired first episode.
Musk, who often proclaims himself a “free speech absolutist,” owns X and has been vocal about his commitment to providing a platform for diverse voices. However, in a statement posted on X, the San Francisco-based company revealed that after careful consideration, it had decided not to enter into a commercial partnership with Lemon’s show.
The statement emphasized, while contradicting itself, that Lemon’s show is welcome to publish its content on X without censorship, aligning with the platform’s ethos of providing a space for creators to share their work freely.
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Lemon expressed disappointment in Musk’s decision, stating that the billionaire had initially encouraged him to join X with a new show, promising his full support. Lemon mentioned that he believed the partnership would amplify diverse voices, as per X’s public commitment.
The former CNN anchor further revealed that Musk and his team had made significant commitments regarding the support X would provide for the show. Despite these assurances, Musk informed Lemon of his decision to cancel the partnership shortly after their interview on Friday.
“[Musk’s] commitment to a global town square where all questions can be asked and all ideas can be shared seems not to include questions of him from people like me,” Lemon retorted.
Expressing his disappointment with Musk’s decision, Lemon reiterated his commitment to free speech and announced that the interview would be available on various platforms, including YouTube, podcasts, and X.
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“While Elon goes back on his word, I will be doubling down on my commitment to free speech and I cannot wait to get started,” Lemon said in a statement.
He also retorted back at Musk directly, who had posted earlier in the day that “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy” by replying “You canceled my contract after our interview. I don’t think you believe in free speech.”
“CNN, but on social media which doesn’t work”
On the other hand, Musk is standing by his decision to cancel the platform’s partnership with Lemon. The tech billionaire asserts that Lemon approached his forthcoming show with a mindset reminiscent of traditional cable news, which Musk believes is ineffective in the realm of social media.
When questioned about the reasons behind Lemon’s dismissal, Musk suggested that Lemon failed to adapt his style away from the conventions of CNN.
“His approach was basically just ‘CNN, but on social media,’ which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying,” Musk stated in a response to an X user on Wednesday. Musk further criticized the lack of authenticity in Lemon’s presentation, insinuating that Lemon was merely a mouthpiece for former CNN CEO Jeff Zucker.
In response to Musk’s actions, a spokesperson for Lemon issued a legal threat towards X, indicating that Lemon expects compensation for the terminated contract and is prepared to pursue legal action if necessary.
“Don has a deal with X and expects to be paid for it. If we have to go to court we will,” the spokesperson said.
X had previously announced in January that it had secured a deal with Lemon, along with other notable figures, to create content for the platform, until the said cancellation.
Lemon’s 17-year employment at CNN came to an end last year when he was dismissed by then-CEO Chris Licht, who himself departed from the network shortly thereafter.
The interview
Lemon announced via a video posted on X that that Musk was “mad” at him, although he did not delve into specifics regarding the source of Musk’s purported unhappiness.
“Elon Musk is mad at me and I just put out a statement between him, me and the interview that he is apparently so upset about,” Lemon said.
In that statement, the host clarified that “there were no restrictions on the interview that [Musk] willingly agreed to.”
“My questions were respectful and wide ranging, covering everything from Space to the presidential election. We had a good conversation. Clearly he felt differently,” he explained.
In the same X video, Lemon emphasized the importance of their exchange, stating, “Throughout our conversation, I kept reiterating to him that although it was tense at times, I thought it was good for people to see and hear our exchange and that they would learn from our conversation.” He also remarked on the apparent discrepancy between Musk’s advocacy for free speech and his reluctance to entertain questions about himself from individuals like Lemon.
Later, during a CNN discussion with Lemon on Monday, anchor Erin Burnett played clips from Lemon’s 90-minute interview with Musk. The excerpts showcased moments where Musk grew defensive when questioned about content moderation and the proliferation of hate speech on the X platform.
In one segment, Lemon queried Musk about the responsibility he and his platform hold in moderating hate speech, specifically mentioning the “great replacement theory,” a racist belief that falsely attributes a plot to diminish the influence of white people in the U.S. to Jews. Musk responded assertively, indicating that he does not feel obligated to address inquiries from reporters, stating, “The only reason I’m in this interview is because you’re on the X platform and you asked for it. Otherwise, I would not be doing this interview.”
When Lemon pressed further about the criticism Musk has faced regarding hate speech, the CEO dismissed it, saying, “I’m criticized constantly. I could care less.”
Apparently, after the interview, Lemon receives a message from Musk saying, “contract is cancelled.”
Lemon affirmed that the interview with Musk would still premiere as the first episode of the podcast “The Don Lemon Show” on Monday, March 18. He emphasized that the interview covered a wide range of topics, including space and the presidential election.
Information for this briefing was found via AP News, Fox News, and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
