Don Lemon Made Outrageous Demands to Host Show on X Before Elon Musk Ended Talks: Report
Editor’s Note: Our readers responded strongly to this story when it originally ran; we’re reposting it here in case you missed it.
Former CNN anchor Don Lemon reportedly had a list of demands that would make a diva jealous as he tried to negotiate with Elon Musk to host a show on X, but Musk — the social media site’s billionaire owner — ended the contract talks after a recent interview with Lemon.
Lemon insisted on a Tesla Cybertruck, $5 million up front, a salary of $8 million, an equity stake in X, and approval rights over X policy changes impacting news content, according to the New York Post.
Lemon also wanted X to toss in a private plane trip to Las Vegas, a suite for his fiancé and himself, and an X-paid day of drinking and massages, the Post wrote, citing an unidentified source with knowledge of the situation.
Even though I think Don 🍋 is a pompous fool who spouts nonsense, he is still free to upload his show to 𝕏 and will receive advertising revenue https://t.co/K5LiG3WiI5
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 15, 2024
Lemon also wanted executive assistants and a marketing budget of $10 million to $15 million, the Post wrote, per sources.
The contract talks, according to the Post, were still in the fluid stage when Musk decided this week not to finish them.
Jay Sures, vice chairman at United Talent Agency, where Lemon has agents, said the Post report was “absolute, complete utter nonsense without an iota of truth to it.”
A representative of Lemon also said the demands were not made.
“There is nothing in your list of demands that you claim Don made of X that is true. Literally nothing,” said the representative, whom the Post did not name.
Musk met Lemon for an interview recently and called him “dull” and “underwhelming,” according to the Post.
A partnership between Lemon and X was announced in January, but a spokesperson for the social media company told the Post that it “did not have a final or signed agreement with Don Lemon or ‘The Don Lemon Show’” before the interview with Musk, a talk that had been targeted as the first episode of the show.
There was more contention than chemistry between Lemon and Musk during the interview.
“I don’t have to answer questions from reporters, Don,” Musk said. “The only reason I’m doing this interview is because you’re on the X platform and you asked for it.
“Otherwise, I would not do this interview.”
In 30 seconds, Don Lemon shows exactly what’s wrong with modern “journalism.”
Lemon arrogantly believes the media has authority over people, and they MUST answer to the likes of him.
It’s laughable when he asks @elonmusk if he ‘didn’t think he’d get in trouble,’ with the media. pic.twitter.com/M09CHIlQpG
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) March 14, 2024
Lemon went to CNN, which fired him last year, to claim that Musk “doesn’t understand that sort of the rhetoric he talks about — the Great Replacement Theory and migrant invasion — that’s what radicalized shooters used in their manifestos,” according to the Daily Beast.
In a statement on March 13, X reiterated that 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.
Elon Musk has cancelled Don Lemon’s new show on X… To be honest, I didn’t even know Lemon was supposed to get a new show until now, but I am glad it’s been cancelled. Lemon is a toxic propagandist parasite.
You will NEVER be Tucker Carlson, Don!pic.twitter.com/HjFhKhQwxH
— Suburban Black Man 🇺🇸 (@niceblackdude) March 13, 2024
Lemon told “The View” that Musk could not handle his questions, according to Fox News.
“I think it was just uncomfortable for him to sit in front of someone and actually have to answer questions, to be held accountable, to really, you know – instead of being in a friendly — usually for the most part his interviews are with a friendly crowd,” Lemon said.
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