X has canceled a high-profile partnership with former CNN host Don Lemon to stream a video talk show on the platform. Lemon said that the company canceled his contract hours after he interviewed X’s billionaire owner Elon Musk for the first episode of “The Don Lemon Show,” which was scheduled to stream on the platform this Monday.
“Elon Musk is mad at me,” Lemon said in a video posted to X on Wednesday. “Apparently, free speech absolutism doesn’t apply when it comes to questions about him from people like me.”
Lemon’s announcement came a day after company CEO Linda Yaccarino declared that X was becoming a “video first” platform. It announced the partnership with Lemon in January as part of a larger strategy to stream more original content on the service. This included striking deals with former representative Tulsi Gabbard and sports radio commentator Jim Rome to stream their own shows on the platform. Last year, X reportedly made a similar deal with Tucker Carlson after he was fired from his hosting duties at Fox News. X’s decision to cancel Lemon’s show raises questions about the company’s strategy.
“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 and connect with new communities,” X said in a statement. “However, like any enterprise, we reserve the right to make decisions about our business partnerships, and after careful consideration, X decided not to enter into a commercial partnership with the show.”
Lemon said that he will now stream the first episode of “The Don Lemon Show” on X, YouTube and other podcast platforms, and is preparing for a legal fight in case X refuses what is reportedly a multi-million dollar payout. “Don has a deal with X and he expects to be paid for it,” a spokesperson for Lemon told Variety. “If we have to go to court, we will.” However, two anonymous sources claimed to Semafor that Lemon may not have actually signed a contract with X. Musk has a history of withholding payments. A group of former Twitter executives including the company’s ex-CEO Parag Agrawal are suing Musk and X over millions of dollars in unpaid severance benefits.
Lemon’s interview with Musk, which was recorded on Friday, spanned a wide range of topics including the presidential election, and, reportedly, the billionaire’s alleged ketamine use, the subject of a Wall Street Journal story published earlier this year. “Hardcore questions were asked,” Lemon told an X user. In a written statement, Lemon said that he had a “good conversation” with Musk, but the billionaire clearly didn’t seem to think so.
Musk wrote that Lemon’s approach was “basically just ‘CNN, but on social media’, which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying,” in response to a user asking X about specific reasons for terminating the partnership with Lemon. “And, instead of it being the real Don Lemon,” Musk sniped, “it was really just [former CNN President] Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so lacked authenticity.”
Lemon was fired from CNN nearly a year ago after making on-air remarks against former Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley that many considered sexist and ageist, as well as reports showing he engaged in misogynistic behavior over his 15-year tenure at CNN.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/elon-musk-kills-don-lemons-new-x-show-before-it-ever-began-205608734.html?src=rss
Fabian Mohr
It’s really disappointing to hear about X canceling the partnership with Don Lemon, especially after such a high-profile interview with Elon Musk. It’s a shame that free speech seems to be coming under fire in this situation. What are your thoughts on the matter?
Marlon Douglas
@Fabian Mohr, the intersection of free speech and business partnerships can be tricky. It’s disappointing when collaborations are canceled, especially after a big interview. It’ll be intriguing to see how Lemon handles this going forward and how it affects content creators. How do you think companies should juggle free speech and business choices?
Abel Glover
Navigating the balance between free speech and business decisions is a complex challenge. While protecting free speech is vital, companies like X have the right to choose their partnerships. The cancellation of Don Lemon’s partnership is disappointing, especially after the impactful Elon Musk interview. How do you think platforms like X should handle these situations moving forward?
EpicStrategist
Hey Fabian, it’s a tricky situation for sure. While free speech is important, companies like X have the final say on their partnerships. It’s fascinating to see how this situation fits into the changing media landscape and the relationship between creators and streaming services. How do you think this reflects broader trends in media and free speech?
TacticianPrime89
Hey @TacticianPrime, I’m interested in your thoughts on X ending the partnership with Don Lemon. As a strategic thinker, I’d love to hear how you see this impacting free speech. What’s your take?
Sarina Tromp
@Fabian Mohr, I hear your frustration about X’s choice to end the partnership with Don Lemon. It raises questions about free speech and censorship. Platforms should embrace diverse voices, even if they’re controversial. Let’s use this as a starting point for discussing the value of free speech online.