Why did Elon musk cancel Don Lemon’s X show? What we know as judge green lights lawsuit against billionaire

In a new ruling, journalist and anchor Don Lemon’s lawsuit against Tesla CEO and billionaire Elon Musk and the social media platform that he owns, X (formerly Twitter), has been allowed to proceed in the state of California instead of in Texas by Judge Harold E. Kahn of the San Francisco Superior Court. As per the Daily Mail, Lemon is accusing Musk and X of misrepresentation, fraud, and breach of contract.

Lemon’s dispute with Musk arose in March 2024, when the tech mogul abruptly cancelled Lemon’s talk show. After leaving CNN, Lemon entered a deal to exclusively host a talk show on X. However, a few hours after taping the first episode of the show, which was an interview with Musk himself, Lemon alleged that Musk wrote to him saying that his contract was terminated, as per The Guardian. While Lemon claimed that his show was cancelled because Musk did not like the questions Lemon posed to him, Musk said that Lemon was ‘inauthentic,’ noted the news outlet.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Don Lemon (@donlemonofficial)

According to the Daily Mail, during the interview between Lemon and Musk, which was released on YouTube as part of The Don Lemon Show, Musk was questioned on hate speech on the social media platform X, as well as the billionaire’s use of ketamine for depression. The exchange between the two was awkward and tense, with Musk becoming annoyed during the conversation, noted the publication.

Back in March 2024, Lemon opened up about the cancellation of his show and, as per the New York Post, wrote,

“Elon Musk has canceled the partnership I had with X…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.”

On the other hand, Musk claimed in a post on X,

“His approach was basically just ‘CNN, but on social media’, which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying.”

Claiming that Lemon’s approach is derived from former President of CNN, Jeff Zucker, Musk added,

“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.”

His approach was basically just “CNN, but on social media”, which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying.

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…

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 13, 2024

About the lawsuit filed by Don Lemon against Elon Musk and X

Don Lemon filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and X in August 2024, as per CNBC.

According to Bloomberg, Musk’s lawyer, in a filing related to the lawsuit claimed that Lemon:

“repeatedly — and publicly — interrogated Musk in a sprawling interview about, among other topics, his ability to run his companies, including X; his political and ethical beliefs; his mental health; and his use of prescription medication. Upset with the rupture of the potential commercial relationship and the all-too foreseeable consequences of his actions, plaintiff filed this lawsuit.”

The partnership deal between Lemon and X was worth $1.5 million, noted the news outlet.

As per The Wrap, Carney Shegerian, Lemon’s lawyer, argued that X’s termination of their partnership with Don Lemon caused harm to the journalist’s reputation as well as to his finances.