Don Lemon Made Unrealistic Demands Before Musk Ended Contract Talks: Report

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon purportedly had a list of demands that would rival those of a diva as he attempted to negotiate with Elon Musk to host a show on X. However, Musk, the billionaire owner of the social media site, terminated the contract talks after a recent interview with Lemon.

According to the New York Post, Lemon insisted on a Tesla Cybertruck, "$5 million up front," a salary of "$8 million," an "equity stake in X," and "approval rights over X policy changes impacting news content."

Lemon also reportedly requested X to provide a "private plane trip to Las Vegas," a "suite for his fiancé and himself," and "an X-paid day of drinking and massages." Additionally, he asked for "executive assistants" and a "marketing budget of $10 million to $15 million."

The Post stated that the contract talks were still in progress when Musk decided not to proceed this week.

Jay Sures, vice chairman at United Talent Agency, where Lemon has agents, dismissed the Post report as "absolute, complete utter nonsense without an iota of truth to it."

A representative of Lemon also denied the demands, stating, "There is nothing in your list of demands that you claim Don made of X that is true. Literally nothing."

During the recent interview with Musk, Lemon was referred to as "dull" and "underwhelming" by Musk, according to the Post.

Although a partnership between Lemon and X was announced in January, a spokesperson for the social media company clarified that there was "not a final or signed agreement with Don Lemon or ‘The Don Lemon Show’" before the interview with Musk.

The interview between Lemon and Musk was more contentious than harmonious.

"I don’t have to answer questions from reporters, Don," Musk said. "The only reason I’m doing this interview is because you’re on the X platform and you asked for it. Otherwise, I would not do this interview."

Lemon later criticized Musk on CNN, where he was fired last year, claiming that Musk "doesn’t understand that sort of the rhetoric he talks about — the Great Replacement Theory and migrant invasion — that’s what radicalized shooters used in their manifestos," as reported by the Daily Beast.

In response, X reiterated that the "Don Lemon Show is welcome to publish its content on X, without censorship," but decided not to enter a commercial partnership with the show after careful consideration.

Lemon commented on Musk's inability to handle questions, stating, "I think it was just uncomfortable for him to sit in front of someone and actually have to answer questions, to be held accountable, to really, you know – instead of being in a friendly — usually for the most part his interviews are with a friendly crowd," as reported by Fox News.