Elon Musk Cancels 'Don Lemon Show' Partnership After Interview With The Billionaire Goes Awry - 'Contract Terminated'

On Wednesday, former CNN host Don Lemon shared that X CEO Elon Musk canceled 'The Don Lemon Show' just hours after a combative interview between the two men. X partnered with Lemon in January to start a new show after former Fox News host Tucker Carlson saw tremendous success on the platform in recent months. Lemon, however, seemed to upset Musk, whom he was interviewing for the show's first episode on March 18.

"Elon Musk has canceled the partnership I had with X, which they announced as part of their public commitment to amplifying more diverse voices on their platform," Lemon wrote on X. "He informed me of his decision hours after an interview I conducted with him on Friday." The interview will still premiere on March 18 despite the canceled partnership. "There were no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to, and my questions were respectful and wide-ranging, covering everything from SpaceX to the presidential election."

Lemon said that he believed that the two "had a good conversation" but that "clearly he felt differently." The former CNN host then criticized Musk for the reversal, given Musk's strong support for freedom of speech and the idea of an online digital town square. "His commitment to a global town square where all questions can be asked and all ideas can be shared seems not to include questions of him from people like me," Lemon wrote. "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." Musk has yet to respond publicly to Lemon's statement.

As previously reported by the DC Enquirer, X partnered with Lemon earlier in the year with X's business account writing, "We're delighted to announce a new content partnership with [Don Lemon] for his new project, The Don Lemon Show. The award-winning TV journalist will share his unique and honest voice in 30-minute episodes three times a week, covering politics, culture, sports, and entertainment. The show will run exclusively first on X. Welcome Don!"

Upon the announcement of his show, Lemon took to the platform to write, "I've heard you... and today I am back bigger, bolder, freer! My new media company's first project is The Don Lemon Show. It will be available to everyone, easily, whenever and wherever you want it, streaming on the platforms where the conversations are happening. And you'll find it first on X, the biggest space for free speech in the world. I know now more than ever that we need a place for honest debate and discussion without the hall monitors. This is just the beginning, so stay tuned."

It seems that Don Lemon has been fired once again in his effort to revive his image with a new show on X. While the canceled partnership was a sudden decision by the SpaceX CEO, it will likely generate even more attention to Lemon's interview with Musk that releases on X, YouTube, and other podcast platforms on Monday.

You can read Don Lemon's full statement below:

You can follow Sterling on X/Twitter here.