Former CNN anchor Don Lemon announced that he is leaving Elon Musk’s X. This decision comes less than a year after X had announced that “The Don Lemon Show” would air on the platform three times a week. However, the deal was canceled before it was ever signed, and Lemon subsequently sued Musk and X over it in August.
Lemon cited X’s updated terms of service, set to take effect soon, which stipulate that all disputes with the company must be settled in a court in northern Texas. In a statement shared on X, Lemon commented, “As The Washington Post recently reported on X’s decision to change the terms, this ‘ensures that such lawsuits will be heard in courthouses that are a hub for conservatives, which experts say could make it easier for X to shield itself from litigation and punish critics.’” He added, “I think that speaks for itself.”
Earlier this year, X had announced several video content partnerships with notable figures like former congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard, sports commentator Jim Rome, and Don Lemon, as part of a broader push to expand its video offerings. However, despite the ambitious plans, the video push has not yet succeeded in gaining significant traction.
During the negotiations, Lemon had planned to interview Musk as the first guest for his new show, which was set to appear not only on X but also on YouTube and other platforms. The partnership was never intended to be exclusive. In the interview, Musk became visibly uncomfortable as Lemon pressed him about his reported ketamine use, his views on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and X’s content moderation policies. At one point, Musk responded, “Don… Choose your questions carefully, you’ve got 5 minutes left.”
Soon after the interview, Musk abruptly canceled the deal, sending a brief message to Lemon’s agent: “Contract is canceled.”