Elon Musk Cancels 'The Don Lemon Show' After Realizing What It Really Was

On Wednesday, Tesla chief Elon Musk announced the termination of his business deal with former CNN commentator Don Lemon.

The decision to cancel the collaboration comes two months after Lemon revealed plans to partner with Musk's platform X to launch a new daily show.

Musk expressed his rationale for the cancellation in a post on X, stating, "His approach was basically just ‘CNN, but on social media’, which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying." Musk further criticized the lack of authenticity in Lemon's involvement, suggesting that it was primarily driven by Jeff Zucker, then-president of CNN.

Lemon, a left-leaning figure, was let go from CNN in April due to low ratings and controversies during his tenure. He expressed shock at the termination in a social media post at the time.

Following his departure from CNN, Lemon announced his collaboration with Musk's platform for the new show. However, just days before its scheduled launch, X announced the withdrawal of its sponsorship for Lemon's venture.

In a post on XBusiness, the platform clarified its stance, stating, "X is a platform that champions free speech, and we’re proud to provide an open environment for diverse voices and perspectives." While affirming Lemon's right to publish content on X without censorship, the platform cited business considerations for its decision to withdraw sponsorship.

Lemon responded to the development with a video on X, asserting that Musk is "mad" at him and reaffirming his commitment to continue posting his show. Despite a confrontational interview with Musk, Lemon indicated his intention to air it as the first episode of his show.

In a formal message posted on X, Lemon reiterated Musk's decision to cancel support for "The Don Lemon Show," noting that the termination came shortly after their interview. Lemon portrayed Musk's action as contradictory to his public commitment to promoting diverse voices and suggested that Musk withdrew support due to dissatisfaction with Lemon's conduct during the interview.

Lemon concluded by questioning Musk's commitment to free speech, insinuating that Musk's actions contradict his purported dedication to fostering an open dialogue.