X Cancels Content material Cope with Don Lemon, As Musk Continues to Censor Content material That He Doesn’t Like

For any individual who makes a lot noise about “free speech”, Elon Musk actually appears very eager to quash the voices of these he disagrees with.

Right this moment, former TV persona Don Lemon has announced that X (previously Twitter) has canceled his media cope with him and his group, by which Lemon was set to convey his discuss present to X as an unique.

Clearly, the implication, on this be aware not less than, is that X has made the choice primarily based on who he’s, although Lemon has additionally said that Musk merely didn’t just like the questions that he requested Elon of their current sit-down interview, which, as Lemon notes, was to be the primary episode of the brand new X present.

Some have instructed that Lemon had asked Musk about his rumored drug use, which is what angered Musk to the purpose of canceling the deal. And once more, that is the man who retains telling us in regards to the worth of free speech, particularly from these whom you disagree with.

Certainly, in an interview with the BBC last year, Musk reiterated that:

“Free speech is meaningless except you permit individuals you do not prefer to say issues you do not like.” 

Evidently, Musk is much less inclined to help that ethos on his personal platform, although X has additionally famous that Lemon is free to proceed publishing his content material within the app:

So there’s that.

For his half, Musk says that he decided to cancel Lemon’s deal because:

“[Lemon’s] approach was basically just “CNN, but on social media”, which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the truth that CNN is dying. And, as a substitute of it being the true Don Lemon, it was actually simply Jeff Zucker speaking by Don, so lacked authenticity.”

I don’t know, it looks like a really contradictory transfer, whereas it’s additionally one other blow for X’s new “video first platform” push, which was being touted by its CEO just yesterday.

That’s not precisely going superior.

Of X’s authentic slate of TV-like content material:

So whereas X is eager to speak up its video potential, on the trail to creating video an even bigger focus, issues don’t appear to be going nice for the initiative at this stage.

X does nonetheless have content material offers with Jim Rome and Tulsi Gabbard, whereas it’s additionally lately signed new content material partnerships with the WWE and The Big 3 basketball league.

Although then once more, outdoors of the WWE, these are nonetheless pretty area of interest choices, and it’s exhausting to see how X will go in translating that into extra mainstream success, if it may’t signal some main names to its platform.

X is eager to get extra individuals watching extra of its video content material in vertical format, and on their TV screens, with X additionally lately revamping its TV playback feature, to allow extra lean-back viewing.

However with out the content material to eat, it looks like an unsure push, whereas it additionally, as soon as once more, underlines Musk’s personal penchant for censorship, regardless of publicly and repeatedly touting the other.

For instance:

• In December 2022, Musk banned various journalists from The New York Occasions, The Washington Publish and others, after accusing them of “doxxing” him. Within the continuing months, X has continued to ban or restrict journalists and/or publications that Musk has been essential of.  
• After touting his expansive help of free speech, to the extent of even permitting an account that shares data on the actions of his non-public jet to stay energetic within the app, Musk then banned that very account simply weeks later.
• Musk made a private choice to maintain a ban of Alex Jones’ account that was carried out by Twitter administration, on account of Jones’ controversial feedback in regards to the Sandy Hook mass taking pictures. Musk then reneged on that stance late final yr.
• Early final yr, X censored a BBC documentary that was essential of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the request of the Indian Authorities. Musk says that that is an instance of X aligning with native legal guidelines, however many have criticized the platform for bowing to censorship calls for, particularly after earlier Twitter administration pushed back on the same.
• Varied Tesla critics have both been banned from X, or had their posts restricted within the app.

Mainly, lots of people and/or publications that Musk has had a private downside with have discovered themselves restricted by X, usually with out rationalization. Which is opposite to Musk’s said strategy, and but his military of supporters will nonetheless undoubtedly come to his protection, and reiterate no matter logic that Musk communicates.

Although it’s humorous that those self same defenders recurrently reply to any criticism of Musk with “you just hate free speech”.

Sure. That’s what it’s.

It’ll be fascinating to see how this impacts Musk’s broader video content material push, and whether or not it influences who indicators offers with the app transferring ahead.

As a result of basically, Musk is saying you could say what you need on X, as long as I agree.

Looks as if tenuous floor for any creator trying to construct their media enterprise within the app.