*New York (CNN) — Don Lemon stated Wednesday that his partnership with Elon Musk went down in flames, hours after the previous CNN anchor performed an interview final week with the erratic billionaire for the debut episode of his new unbiased web-based present.
“Elon publicly inspired me to hitch X with a brand new present, saying I might have his ‘full help,’” Lemon stated in a press release, including that he took Musk at his phrase that he was “fascinated by working straight with various voices.”
In an interview with CNN’s Erin Burnett on Wednesday night time, Lemon spoke about his change with Musk and shared video excerpts from the 90-minute sit-down, by which Lemon requested Musk questions on an array of subjects.
Lemon stated he pressed Musk in regards to the rise in hate speech on X because the billionaire took over the social media platform final yr, asking him if he believed that he and the corporate had a accountability to average hateful content material.
“I don’t need to reply questions from reporters, Don,” Musk replied. “The one purpose I’m doing this interview is since you’re on the X platform and also you requested for it. In any other case, I might not do that interview.”
Lemon additionally requested Musk a couple of current assembly he held with former President Donald Trump. CNN beforehand confirmed the assembly with Musk, certainly one of a number of Trump held with donors in Palm Seaside in current weeks as he seeks to lift more cash for his financially strained marketing campaign.
“I used to be at a breakfast at a buddy’s place and Donald Trump got here by. That’s it,” Musk stated, including that Trump did “a lot of the speaking.”
Musk stated Trump, who’s dealing with greater than half a billion {dollars} in civil judgments and a number of felony instances taking part in out within the courts, didn’t ask him for cash. Musk stated he was “not paying his authorized payments in any means form or kind.”
Lemon additionally introduced up Musk’s open use of the drug ketamine, asking the SpaceX founder if he believed it posed an issue for his authorities safety clearance. Musk, Lemon stated, answered no as a result of he has a prescription for the drug.
In his assertion on social media, Lemon stated the sit-down he performed with Musk for the primary episode of “The Don Lemon Present,” which might be launched Monday on social media platforms together with X and YouTube, was “respectful and huge ranging” and that “there have been no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to.”
“His dedication to a world city sq. the place all questions might be requested and all concepts might be shared appears to not embody questions of him from folks like me,” Lemon added.
Free speech absolutist?
In a video posted on his social media Wednesday, Lemon took additional intention at Musk’s declare to be a “free speech absolutist.”
“All through our dialog I saved reiterating to him, though it was tense at occasions, I believed it was good for folks to see our change,” Lemon stated. “However apparently free speech absolutism doesn’t apply with regards to questions on him from folks like me.”
Whereas the interview is just not but public, an individual acquainted with the matter stated Musk was miffed when Lemon questioned him on his use of the drug ketamine, his authorities safety clearance, and the difficulty of antisemitism.
In a press release, X defended Musk’s choice to drag the plug on its settlement with Lemon.
“The Don Lemon Present is welcome to publish its content material on X, with out censorship, as we imagine in offering a platform for creators to scale their work and join with new communities,” the corporate stated in a press release. “Nonetheless, like all enterprise, we reserve the appropriate to make selections about our enterprise partnerships, and after cautious consideration, X determined to not enter right into a business partnership with the present.”
Requested by a person on X what led to the choice, Musk attacked Lemon and CNN, which isn’t concerned in Lemon’s new enterprise.
“His method was principally simply ‘CNN, however on social media’, which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the truth that CNN is dying,” Musk wrote. “And, as an alternative of it being the actual Don Lemon, it was actually simply [former CNN chief] Jeff Zucker speaking via Don, so lacked authenticity.”
However a spokesperson for Lemon informed CNN that the media persona expects Musk to honor the monetary phrases of the settlement.
“Don has a cope with X and expects to be paid for it,” the spokesperson stated. “If we have now to go to courtroom we are going to.”
Lemon technically had not inked a contract with X, folks acquainted with the matter informed CNN. However contracts don’t essentially need to be signed to be legally binding, notably whether it is clear either side had arrived at a mutual understanding. And in accordance with the folks near the matter, Lemon’s camp is assured {that a} deal had successfully been struck, as evidenced by the truth that X had touted the deal in public bulletins earlier this yr. Furthermore, Musk himself appeared to acknowledge that there had been a deal, texting Jay Sures, the UTA energy agent who represents Lemon, “contract is canceled,” in accordance with folks acquainted with the matter.
Recruited by Musk
The deal’s implosion comes after Musk urged Lemon to launch a present on his platform, writing final yr on X: “It’d be nice to have [MSNBC host] Rachel Maddow, Don Lemon & others on the left put their reveals on this platform. No exclusivity or authorized docs required! You’ll obtain our full help. The digital city sq. is for all.”
In one other put up, Musk straight appealed to Lemon: “Have you ever thought of doing all of your present on this platform? Perhaps price a attempt. Viewers is way larger.”
Musk has claimed to imagine in free speech absolutism, however he has repeatedly taken steps to restrict the speech of critics. The billionaire has at occasions suspended journalists from his platform and filed lawsuits towards watchdogs for publishing reviews vital of X.
Whereas Musk often launches ugly assaults on journalists and conventional information organizations, he has concurrently elevated conspiracy theories and extremist rhetoric.
Final yr, Musk endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy concept, which resulted in droves of advertisers fleeing X. Solely then, days afterward, did Musk publicly specific regret for his actions.
Lemon was ousted from CNN final yr, in a choice that the longtime anchor stated left him “shocked.” No particular purpose was given by CNN for Lemon’s dismissal, nevertheless it got here after he was broadly criticized for making sexist feedback about then-GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley. Lemon apologized for the remarks on the time, saying, “Once I make a mistake, I personal it. And I personal this one as properly.”
This story has been up to date with statements posted on X and extra context.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB: Don Lemon Formally Separates From CNN With $24.5 Million
The-CNN-Wire™ & © 2024 Cable Information Community, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Firm. All rights reserved.
We Publish Information 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click on HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our E-newsletter Now!
