Former CNN host Don Lemon has had his new show unexpectedly axed by Elon Musk just hours after the billionaire sat down for an interview.
Lemon slammed the decision as an attack on his free speech, which Musk countered by insisting Lemon is still free to share his show on platform without censorship, but ‘we reserve the right to make decisions about our business partnerships.’
‘We had a good conversation. Clearly he felt differently,’ Lemon said in a scathing statement, in which he said that he had entered an agreement to stream all of his shows on Musk’s platform before the rug was pulled.
‘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 declined to say what exactly angered Musk, although journalist Kara Swisher claimed that the billionaire took offense to ‘questions about his ketamine use.’
Don Lemon revealed Wednesday that his new X show has been canned by Elon Musk after the billionaire became ‘so upset’ by their unreleased interview
Musk and Lemon sat down for their interview on Friday, and the former CNN anchor said he found out his show was axed just hours later
Lemon said that despite the show being cancelled, he will still air the interview with Musk, which covered a wide range of topics ‘from SpaceX to the presidential election.’
‘This will be just the first of many episodes of The Don Lemon Show,’ he added. The interview is set to air on YouTube on March 18.
‘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.’
In response, Musk said that he decided to axe his partnership with the show after finding Lemon’s approach was ‘basically just CNN, but on social media.’
The former CNN anchor was ousted from the network in April 2023 following 17 years with the company, after he sparked backlash with several controversial remarks, including branding Nikki Haley ‘past her prime.’
He also faced allegations from female co-workers who claimed that he had a history of misogynistic behavior, which he denied.
After releasing his statement, Lemon took to X to release a video of himself walking through New York, where he claimed Musk was ‘so upset’ about their interview.
Musk was allegedly angered by Lemon asking about his suspected ketamine usage
Lemon spent 17 years at CNN until he was ousted from the network in April 2023
‘This does not change anything about the show, except for my relationship with Elon and X,’ he said.
‘I know that many of you were not happy that I was doing this in the first place, and you told me so.
‘I just want you to know that I did this deal because not only do I believe in free speech, but I believed that this was my best possible chance for the work that I’m doing to reach the largest amount of people.’
Lemon said that he sat down with Musk to try and share insights into the billionaire and learn more about him, including why he bought Twitter and pledged to make it a ‘town square’ for the First Amendment.
‘But apparently, free speech absolutism doesn’t apply when it comes to questions about him from people like me,’ Lemon said.
The journalist refused to say exactly what it was about their interview that angered the billionaire, and told viewers they’d have to tune in next week to find out.
However, Swisher tweeted after news of Lemon’s show being cancelled that she had warned him that it would happen, as she branded Musk ‘the adult toddler.’
She claimed that Musk’s response came after he was asked ‘questions about his ketamine use’, an issue raised in a New Yorker article that claimed his use of the drug has ‘escalated.’
Citing those close to him, the article alleged that ‘the drug, alongside his isolation and his increasingly embattled relationship with the press, might contribute to his tendency to make chaotic and impulsive statements and decisions.’