Tech mogul Elon Musk has terminated the talk show deal between X, his social media network formerly known as Twitter, and former CNN anchor Don Lemon after a contentious interview that took place during the premiere episode.
In a surprising move, Musk announced the cancellation of “The Don Lemon Show” on X, citing a tense interaction during Lemon’s interview with the billionaire for the show’s inaugural episode. Lemon, who now hosts his own program, recorded the interview with Musk for his new talk show, but the episode has yet to be aired.
Musk, known for his advocacy of free speech, posted the announcement on X, stating that after careful consideration, X had decided not to proceed with a commercial partnership for Lemon’s show. However, X affirmed its commitment to providing a platform for creators to share their content without censorship, offering Lemon the opportunity to publish his show’s content on X independently.
Responding to Musk’s decision, Lemon took to social media to announce that he would be airing his interview with the Tesla CEO on YouTube and via podcast. While Lemon did not specify the exact reason for Musk’s dissatisfaction, he acknowledged that the conversation had been tense at times but believed it was important for viewers to witness their exchange.
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During the interview, Lemon questioned Musk about X’s content moderation policies and the spread of hate speech on the platform. Musk grew defensive in response, asserting that he did not have to answer questions from reporters and expressing indifference to criticism regarding hate speech moderation.
The cancellation of Lemon’s show deal comes after X’s announcement of a “new content partnership” with the former CNN anchor, promising episodes covering politics, culture, sports, and entertainment. Lemon’s dismissal from CNN last year, following a 17-year tenure with the network, occurred amid controversy over on-air comments he made about then-Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley.
As Lemon prepares to release his interview with Musk independently, the incident highlights the challenges and complexities of navigating free speech and content moderation in the digital age, particularly on social media platforms like X.