Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has announced that he is leaving Elon Musk’s social media platform X, just months after plans for his, “The Don Lemon Show” on X were initially publicized on the platform.
The deal was ultimately canceled before finalization although the show was expected to launch three times a week, leading Lemon to file a lawsuit against Musk and X in August.
Lemon cited X’s upcoming changes to its terms of service as a key factor in his decision to leave. Starting from Friday, the new terms will require that all disputes involving the company be handled in a northern Texas court.
In a statement shared on X, Lemon referenced an article from The Washington Post.
“This [change] ensures that such lawsuits will be heard in courthouses that are a hub for conservatives, which experts say could make it easier for X to shield itself from litigation and punish critics. I think that speaks for itself,” he added.
Earlier in the year, X had announced a series of high-profile video content deals with figures including former congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, sports commentator Jim Rome, and Don Lemon. The collaborations were part of X’s broader video strategy.
However, contract negotiations between X and Lemon broke down before an agreement was finalized. During the negotiations, Lemon interviewed Musk, slated as the first guest on his show, which was intended to stream on X, YouTube, and other platforms as part of a non-exclusive deal.
During the interview, tensions rose as Lemon questioned Musk about his reported ketamine usage, views on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), and X’s content moderation policies.
At one point, Musk warned Lemon, saying, “Don … Choose your questions carefully, you’ve got 5 minutes left.” Following the interview, Musk abruptly canceled the partnership, sending Lemon’s agent a terse message: “contract is canceled,” according to Semafor.
The abrupt end to their collaboration and subsequent legal dispute have cast a spotlight on Musk’s approach to partnerships and the evolving policies at X, which continue to stir debate over free speech and corporate governance on the platform.
Babatunde Philips