Staff Reports
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon announced on Wednesday that his collaboration with X owner Elon Musk has ended abruptly following an interview with the tech billionaire. Lemon, aiming to kick off his show on X, had planned for the interview to be the inaugural episode of the Don Lemon Show. However, news emerged on Wednesday of the partnership's termination, leading Lemon to speculate that the interview might have played a role in the fallout.
Expressing disappointment, Lemon remarked, "We had a good conversation. Clearly, he felt differently. His 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 interpreted Musk's decision to sever ties as an indication of his unwillingness to entertain challenging inquiries.
News from me…#TheDonLemonShow pic.twitter.com/PzlKuvkZtj
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) March 13, 2024
Musk attributed the end of the partnership to Lemon's show approach, which he deemed as essentially "CNN, but on social media," and thus, ineffective. Musk also questioned Lemon's authenticity, suggesting that he merely echoed the views of Jeff Zucker and lacked genuine individuality. In a tweet, Musk argued that Lemon's show mirrored CNN's declining influence and failed to showcase the real Don Lemon, portraying instead someone who echoed his superiors.
Despite the dissolution of the partnership, Lemon affirmed his intention to air the Musk interview on various platforms, including YouTube and podcast websites. Lemon reassured his audience that the Musk interview marked just the beginning of the Don Lemon Show, hinting at forthcoming episodes.
The termination of the partnership meant that Lemon's show would not be among the 10 shows to be hosted by X in a deal with Range Media Partners, announced in January. The deal included shows from former Fox Sports host Jim Rome and former Democratic candidate Tulsi Gabbard. The decision to sever ties with Lemon follows the success of Tucker Carlson's show on X, which has garnered significant popularity and led to the launch of Carlson's own streaming platform.
Lemon's partnership with Musk has ended abruptly, leaving Lemon to proceed with his show on X without the billionaire's support. This setback underscores the challenges faced by politically conservative voices in the media landscape, but Lemon remains steadfast in his determination to establish his presence in the realm of online content creation.
