Elon Musk recently made headlines by abruptly canceling former CNN host Don Lemon's show on X. Musk cited Lemon's desire to adhere to the declining CNN business model "on social media" as the primary reason for ending the partnership. This decision came after Lemon's latest interview on X, during which Musk took issue with some of the questions asked.
In a statement, the billionaire emphasized that Lemon, like all others on the platform, is welcome to monetize his content. However, Musk clarified that he would not agree to Lemon's demands for guaranteed minimum payments, as it would be unfair to other creators on the platform.
Musk expressed skepticism about Lemon's attempts to replicate CNN's struggling model on social media, suggesting it would fare even worse than on traditional cable TV. The Don Lemon Show was originally slated to air on X three times a week.
The cancellation of Lemon's show was part of a larger strategy by X to form exclusive video partnerships with various celebrities, including former US Representative Tulsi Gabbard. Despite the cancellation, X affirmed its commitment to allowing Lemon's content to be published on its platform without censorship, believing in providing creators with a space to share their work and engage with diverse audiences.
Nevertheless, X asserted its right to make decisions regarding its business partnerships, ultimately choosing not to pursue a commercial partnership with The Don Lemon Show after careful deliberation, as conveyed by a spokesperson for the Musk-owned platform.
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