After a contentious interview with Elon Musk, Don Lemon’s new talk show deal on X fell apart just before its scheduled airing.
The day after filming an intense interview with Mr. Musk at SpaceX’s Austin office, Mr. Musk terminated Mr. Lemon’s partnership with X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. The conversation delved into topics such as the upcoming U.S. presidential elections and Mr. Musk’s various business endeavors.
Mr. Lemon had planned to release the interview on March 18, stating, “My questions were respectful and wide-ranging, covering everything from SpaceX to the presidential election.” Mr. Lemon expressed disappointment in Mr. Musk’s decision, feeling that his commitment to open dialogue did not extend to questions posed by individuals like himself.
Sales representatives at X were surprised by the abrupt cancellation, as they had been actively working to sell ads for the show until recently, according to an internal document obtained by The New York Times.
This is the latest setback in a series of self-inflicted disruptions at X. In November, Mr. Musk discouraged advertisers from spending on the platform and faced backlash for endorsing controversial views, leading to an exodus of advertisers.
Mr. Lemon, along with other prominent figures like Tucker Carlson and Tulsi Gabbard, had signed contracts to create content on X. The platform aimed to attract content creators for premium content that would appeal to advertisers.
Although X had initially agreed to fund Mr. Lemon’s new show, called “The Don Lemon Show,” they decided to withdraw financial support. The company emphasized its commitment to allowing uncensored content on the platform but asserted its right to make business decisions.
A spokesperson for Mr. Lemon stated that they would pursue payment from X through legal means if necessary.
The recent video deals at X, including the one with Mr. Lemon, were overseen by X’s CEO Linda Yaccarino. The challenges faced by Ms. Yaccarino in attracting advertisers and content creators were highlighted in the aftermath of Mr. Musk’s impulsive actions.
Ryan Mac contributed reporting.
