The hammer has dropped! Elon Musk, the titan behind X (previously known as Twitter), has axed the much-hyped collaboration with Don Lemon, effectively shutting down “The Don Lemon Show” on the platform.
The guillotine fell mere hours after a supposed exclusive interview between Musk and Lemon, meant to kick off the grand premiere of Lemon’s new series on Monday, March 18. Despite this setback, Lemon is adamant about pushing forward, promising to unveil the show’s debut on YouTube and other podcast platforms.
In a video shared on X, Lemon spilled the beans about Musk’s decision. “Hi everyone, Elon Musk is mad at me,” Lemon began his announcement. “But make no mistake about this. This is going to be my first episode of the Don Lemon Show this coming Monday, March 18th. So make sure you tune in. This has not changed anything about the show except for my relationship with Elon and X.”
Back in January, Lemon had trumpeted his new project, ‘The Don Lemon Show,’ scheduled for 30-minute segments on X. “So speaking of free speech, right, I thought the first person to interview, no brainer, Elon Musk, the man who calls himself a free speech absolutist. I asked him to do it. He willingly agreed to the interview,” Lemon said. “But apparently free speech absolutism doesn’t apply when it comes to questions about him from people like me.”
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In another statement, Lemon clarified that there were zero restrictions placed on the interview, which ran the gamut from SpaceX to the presidential election. Lemon characterized the dialogue as “good” and “respectful.”
“I made the decision to work with them in a unique partnership that I believed would ultimately assure that my work would be available to the most people, in the largest possible venue. I took Elon and his management team’s word that they, for the first time, were interested in working directly with new and diverse voices,” Lemon remarked.
“We had a good conversation. Clearly he felt differently,” Lemon noted.
+ Statement from Don Lemon: pic.twitter.com/vvt4HYny54
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) March 13, 2024
“This will be just the first of many episodes of The Don Lemon Show. 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 concluded.
Musk, a prominent figure and the big cheese behind X, has thrown his support behind various individuals and shows, including heavyweights like Tucker Carlson. Musk’s moves and musings on X always draw eyeballs, given his hefty clout in tech and space exploration, not to mention his vocal stance on social and political matters.
In April 2023, Lemon got the boot from CNN. His exit marked a seismic shift in the media landscape, the climax of a series of events leading to the end of his tenure at the network, where he was one of its most recognizable faces. Lemon spearheaded “Don Lemon Tonight,” a prime-time staple.
Throughout his CNN stint, Lemon earned a reputation for his outspoken, sometimes contentious views on politics, social matters, and culture, drawing flak from all corners.