Former CNN news anchor Don Lemon has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk and his social media platform, X, for canceling his contract.
The lawsuit, submitted to the Superior Court of California for San Francisco County, alleges that Musk and X lured Lemon into making a substantial financial investment for a show on the platform through “false promises and representations.”
Lemon’s legal action comes months after he was informed that the deal was off.
Negotiations for the deal began in June 2023, culminating in an agreement in January 2024. According to the lawsuit, Musk first contacted Lemon in June 2023. Despite Lemon expressing reservations about the controversies surrounding X, Musk reassured him that there was no need for formal paperwork and that Lemon would have control over the content, even if Musk disagreed with it.
The agreement stipulated that Lemon would produce 10 short-form videos per month and one long-form video per week, with exclusive rights to X for 24 hours before uploading elsewhere. Lemon was to receive $1.5 million in the first year, with $200,000 paid upfront.
Lemon also claimed that X assured financial support for his show, regardless of differing viewpoints.
“This case is straightforward,” said Lemon’s attorney, Carney Shegerian, in a statement. “X executives used Don to prop up their advertising sales pitch, then canceled their partnership and dragged Don’s name through the mud. You don’t have to be a genius to see the fraud, negligence, and reputational damage here.”
Lemon’s first show on X, which aired in March, featured an hour-long interview with Musk, covering topics like the 2024 presidential race, free speech, and Tesla. Shortly after, Musk informed Lemon via text that the contract was canceled. Lemon speculated that the interview might have influenced Musk’s decision to sever ties.
Musk explained his decision, saying that Lemon’s show was “just CNN, but on social media,” which he believed wouldn’t work on X. He also criticized Lemon’s questioning style, calling it “not cogent.”
During the interview, Musk told Lemon, “Don, the only reason I’m doing this interview is because you’re on the X platform, and you asked for it. Otherwise, we’re not going to be doing this interview.”
There were also claims that Lemon sent a “wish list” for his deal with X, including an $8 million salary with $5 million upfront, a Tesla Cybertruck, and involvement in changing X’s policies. However, these allegations were denied by Lemon’s agent.