Musk cancels partnership with journalist Don Lemon, ex-CNN – 03/14/2024 – Market

Elon Musk suddenly canceled the partnership he had been planning with CNN veteran Don Lemon, after giving an interview to the journalist last Friday for the debut episode of a new program.

Lemon was informed of the decision hours after the meeting, which will still air as the first episode of The Don Lemon Show on March 18.

Although the partnership is ending, Lemon said there will be additional episodes of the series on YouTube, podcast channels and on ‘X’.

Musk’s social network X had revealed the program in January as part of a video program.

The 30-minute episodes were to be shown three times a week first on the platform. Financial terms were not disclosed.

“Elon publicly encouraged me to join X with a new show, saying I would have his ‘full support’ and that his ‘digital plaza is for everyone,'” said Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023 after 17 years, in a post on X. “He and his team pursued the agreement in numerous conversations and made significant commitments about the support X would provide to the program.”

AX, formerly known as Twitter, confirmed on Wednesday that it has ended its deal with the new program. “Like any company, we reserve the right to make decisions about our business partnerships,” the company said in a post.

“X is a platform that champions free expression, and we are proud to provide an open environment for diverse voices and perspectives,” according to the post. “The Don Lemon Show is welcome to publish its content on X, without censorship.”

In his own post, Musk said the show’s approach was “basically just ‘CNN, but on social media.'” That doesn’t work, he said, “as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying.”

“Instead of being the real Don Lemon, he was just Jeff Zucker speaking through Don, so he lacked authenticity,” he added, referring to the former CNN chief.

Lemon said he took Musk and his team at their word that they were interested in working directly with new voices. Lemon’s interview with Musk covered “everything from SpaceX to the presidential election,” he said.

“We had a good conversation,” Lemon said. “Clearly he felt differently.”