Hours after Don Lemon, a former CNN journalist, spoke with the volatile billionaire for the first episode of his brand-new, independent online series, their collaboration with Elon Musk blew up on Wednesday.
In a statement, Lemon stated, “Elon publicly encouraged me to join X with a new show, saying I would have his ‘full support,'” adding that he believed Musk when he claimed he was “interested in working directly with diverse voices.”
The inaugural edition of “The Don Lemon Show,” which will air on social media on Monday on sites including X and YouTube, included an interview with Musk that Lemon described as “respectful and wide ranging” and in which “there were no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to.”
Elon cancelled Don Lemon's new Twitter show bc he didn't like his interview š pic.twitter.com/l9pqCD4lJT
— Best of Dying Twiter (@bestofdyingtwit) March 13, 2024
Lemon said, “It appears that he is not open to questions from individuals like myself regarding his commitment to a global town square where all ideas and questions can be exchanged.”
A video that Lemon uploaded on his Instagram page on Wednesday further criticized Musk’s assertion that he is a “free speech absolutist.”
“Even though it was tense at times, I kept telling him that I thought it was good for people to see our exchange,” Lemon stated. “But it seems that when it comes to inquiries about him from individuals such as myself, free speech absolutism does not hold true.”
X backed Musk’s choice to cease its collaboration with Lemon in a statement.
The firm released a statement saying, “We believe in providing a platform for creators to scale their work and connect with new communities. The Don Lemon Show is welcome to publish its content on X, without censorship.” X, however, opted not to join into a commercial collaboration with the program after giving it serious thought. As with any organization, we maintain the right to make judgments concerning our business alliances.
When a commenter on X questioned Musk about the reasoning for the choice, he disparaged Lemon and CNN, which is unaffiliated with Lemon’s new business.
Musk stated, “His strategy was essentially just ‘CNN, but on social media,’ which doesn’t work, as evidenced by CNN’s demise.” Furthermore, rather than being the genuine Don
The longtime anchor said he was “stunned” by the decision to fire him from CNN last year. CNN did not provide a clear explanation for Lemon’s termination, although it happened after he faced intense backlash for disparaging then-GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley in a sexist manner.
