Elon Musk Ends Partnership with Don Lemon Ahead of Debut on X Network

Elon Musk‘s anticipated collaboration with Don Lemon for the launch of the X network has been abruptly terminated.

X, formerly known as Twitter, announced the cancellation of its commercial partnership with the ex-CNN anchor following their interview, set to air during the premiere of ‘The Don Lemon Show’ on March 18.

Back in January, X had revealed Lemon as the face of three 30-minute weekly episodes, alongside figures like Tulsi Gabbard and Jim Rome, in an initiative to elevate diverse voices on the platform.

However, Musk criticized Lemon, labeling his approach as ‘essentially CNN, but in a social media format.’

In response, X stated that Lemon is free to broadcast his content on the platform without censorship, aligning with their commitment to enabling creators to amplify their work and engage with fresh audiences.

In a personal video posted on his X account, Lemon expressed, ‘Musk is upset with me.’ He highlighted the value of their discourse, acknowledging its intensity and potential for viewers to learn from their exchange.

Lemon emphasized that Musk’s stance contradicts his self-proclaimed adherence to free speech absolutism, particularly when faced with critical inquiries like those posed by Lemon.

This development comes as Lemon’s journey with X came to an abrupt halt, shortly after his departure from CNN, where he spent 17 years as a prominent figure in broadcast journalism.

The unexpected severance of his partnership with X emerges just over two months after Lemon apologized for his remark on-air regarding the age of then-Republican nominee Nikki Haley during his brief stint on a morning show at CNN.

This article was written by Kate Gibson, a CBS MoneyWatch reporter based in New York. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.