“Don, the only reason I’m doing this interview is because you’re on the X platform.”
Shortly after uttering those words, Elon Musk terminated the contract with his newest social media star before the very first episode of The Don Lemon Show even aired. The social media company subsequently reported that ties with the former CNN host—forged only weeks earlier—had been cut “after careful consideration.”
Just prior to Musk making clear he was simply humoring Lemon because of a business interest, the journalist had asked a question that rankled the owner. He wanted to know if X has a problem with hate speech and whether Musk himself is partly at fault for nourishing claims that white Americans are being deliberately replaced by immigrants obedient to the establishment, known as the Great Replacement Theory.
X is a platform that champions free speech, and we’re proud to provide an open environment for diverse voices and perspectives. The Don Lemon Show is welcome to publish its content on X, without censorship, as we believe in providing a platform for creators to scale their work…
— Business (@XBusiness) March 13, 2024
“Freedom of speech, I guess, does not mean the same to him as it does to me,” Lemon later told CNN. “Maybe we’re learning that a public square should not be privately owned.”
Lemon was the second famous TV anchor, following Tucker Carlson, to seek his fortune on X after getting the sack from his network. Musk had even reached out to him personally in May of last year, asking if he would consider doing his show on X.
Musk’s indebted platform needs creators
Like any platform, X needs content, and Musk has been busy courting big creative names like MrBeast to both bring their audience to his site and appease his company’s bankers worried about nearly $13 billion in loans made to make Musk’s purchase of what was then Twitter possible.
In early January, in the same week that Musk won controversial politician Tulsi Gabbard and sports commentator Jim Rome over to X, its official corporate communications account trumpeted a new deal with Lemon. A series of 30-minute video episodes were slated to run exclusively first on X.
“We’re delighted to announce a new content partnership with Don Lemon,” it said, praising the host for bringing his “award-winning” brand of TV journalism to X’s video-first platform.
On paper at least, the deal made sense: Once the show began airing—slated for next week—Musk could position the ex–CNN journalist as a solid counterpart to former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, with each able to reach a different political demographic and maximize engagement.
Musk claims ex–CNN boss Jeff Zucker is pulling Lemon’s strings
The problem Musk now faces is that its termination is clearly linked to his displeasure over the interview set to air on Monday, a fact that he does not dispute. Instead the tycoon—whose company had previously praised Lemon as a “unique and honest voice”—argued he was in fact a stooge for a former president of CNN all along.
“It was really just Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so lacked authenticity,” Musk claimed, adding, “Lemon/Zucker are, of course, welcome to build their viewership on this platform.”
Zucker stepped down from CNN in February 2022 over a consensual but undisclosed affair with a subordinate.
Speaking on CNN later, Lemon acknowledged the interview was tense as it delved into Musk’s use of ketamine and his strident political views, but assured the entrepreneur it was healthy for X users to see a constructive debate between two people of different worldviews.
“There were no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to. My questions were respectful and wide-ranging,” Lemon said in a statement issued on Wednesday. “Clearly he felt differently.”
Praise and criticism for Musk after ending deal
Kara Swisher, the cofounder of tech news website Recode who has known Musk for almost three decades, called the official statement by X notifying users of the termination “mendacious codswallop” and blasted X CEO Linda Yaccarino for being a puppet herself.
“It’s again clear who is actually in charge: a thin-skinned rich dude who operates via petty whims and exhausting grievances, and who calls every fair question a hit piece,” she wrote.
You canceled my contract after our interview. I don’t think you believe in free speech. https://t.co/rD6BJIzStZ
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) March 13, 2024
Musk also had plenty of supporters, though. Gad Saad, who shares the tycoon’s politics and regularly interacts with him, was one of many who leapt to Musk’s aid. The author, professor, and evolutionary biologist reprimanded Lemon for being granted an audience with “one of the most extraordinary people alive” only to foolishly squander it with the wrong line of questioning.
“You were given an opportunity to have an open and frank dialogue with Elon Musk,” he wrote, defending one of the world’s wealthiest and most influential men. “You blew it with your vacuous progressive ideological rapture.”
Musk was quick to agree. “Exactly,” he replied, before doubling down on his theory the former CNN host was only carrying out someone else’s bidding.
Using a fruit emoji in place of his name, Musk claimed Lemon “was just reading from cue cards. He has no clue.”