X proprietor Elon Musk is defending his determination to cancel his platform’s partnership with Don Lemon, claiming the previous anchor was approaching his forthcoming present as “CNN, but on social media.”
Lemon made a splash on social media Wednesday, revealing Musk had canceled his contract, saying the billionaire tech tycoon was “mad” at him over the interview Lemon performed on Friday.
However when requested about why he lower Lemon, Musk advised Lemon could not shake off his CNN “approach.”
DON LEMON DROPPED BY X, CLAIMS ELON MUSK RETALIATED OVER THEIR INTERVIEW: HE’S ‘MAD AT ME’
X proprietor Elon Musk claimed he canceled his take care of Don Lemon as a result of his method to his new program is “CNN, but on social media.” (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photographs)
“His approach was basically just ‘CNN, but on social media’, which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying,” Musk instructed an X person Wednesday. “And, instead of it being the real Don Lemon, it was really just Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so lacked authenticity. All this said, Lemon/Zucker are of course welcome to build their viewership on this platform along with everyone else.”
A spokesperson for Lemon leveled a authorized risk in direction of X, telling Puck Information, “Don has a deal with X and expects to be paid for it. If we have to go to court we will.”
X introduced in January that it had inked a take care of Lemon, together with different expertise, to supply content material on the platform.
However that got here to a crashing halt on Wednesday for Lemon, after the previous CNN star had interviewed Musk on Friday as his inaugural visitor on “The Don Lemon Show,” which was set to launch subsequent week.
“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. He informed me of his decision hours after an interview I conducted with him on Friday,” Lemon wrote in an announcement posted on social media.
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Former CNN host Don Lemon stated Elon Musk scrapped his X deal as a result of the billionaire was “mad” at him over an interview he performed. (Jesse Grant/Getty Photographs for THR)
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“Elon publicly encouraged me to join X with a new show, saying I would have his ‘full support,’ and that his ‘digital town square is for all.’ He and his team pursued the deal in numerous conversations and made significant commitments about the support X would provide for the show. I made the decision to work with them in a unique partnership that I believed would ultimately assure that my work would be available to most people, in the largest possible venue. I took Elon and his management’s team’s word that they, for the first time, were interested in working directly with new and diverse voices,” Lemon wrote.
“There were no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to, and my questions were respectful and wide-ranging, covering everything from SpaceX to the presidential election. We had a good conversation. Clearly he felt differently,” he continued. “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’s interview with Musk will nonetheless be shared on X in addition to YouTube and all podcast platforms on March 18.
Don Lemon is returning to the media panorama with a brand new present after he was fired from CNN final 12 months. (REUTERS/Andrew Kelly)
In an announcement to Fox News Digital, an X spokesperson stated, “X is a platform that champions free speech, and we’re proud to provide an open environment for diverse voices and perspectives. 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. 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.”
Lemon took a swipe at X’s assertion, writing “Clean up on aisle X.”
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He additionally took on Musk straight, who had posted earlier within the day that “Free speech is the bedrock of democracy.”
“You canceled my contract after our interview. I don’t think you believe in free speech,” Lemon instructed Musk.
Lemon was fired from CNN last year by then-CNN CEO Chris Licht, who was proven the door himself weeks later.
