Don Lemon Interviewed Elon Musk For His New Show, X Canceled Its Partnership Hours Later

Don Lemon, the former CNN anchor, has announced that Elon Musk canceled the deal for his upcoming talk show on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. 

What Happened?

Lemon revealed that Musk’s decision came hours after interviewing him for the show’s debut episode. 

“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 shared in a statement.

Despite this setback, Lemon remains optimistic, confirming that his show, “The Don Lemon Show,” will still premiere on March 18, featuring the Musk interview, on alternative channels such as YouTube and podcast platforms.

X’s Response

X’s business account clarified that while Lemon’s show could publish content on X, the platform chose not to enter a commercial partnership. 

“The Don Lemon Show is welcome to publish its content on X, without censorship, as we believe in providing a platform for creators to scale their work and connect with new communities,” the statement read.

“However, like any enterprise, we reserve the right to make decisions about our business partnerships, and after careful consideration, X decided not to enter into a commercial partnership with the show.”

This reflects a strategic decision by X, potentially aligning with Musk’s critique of the show’s approach as mimicking “CNN on social media,” a concept he deemed ineffective given CNN’s struggling performance.

Lemon’s project was among the first original shows slated for X, under Musk and X CEO Linda Yaccarino’s vision to pivot the platform to a “video first” strategy. 

With other original shows in the pipeline, X’s move away from a commercial partnership with Lemon’s show raises questions about the platform’s direction and content criteria.

Despite the sudden change, Lemon remains undeterred, emphasizing the respectful and engaging nature of his interview with Musk.