Don Lemon, former CNN anchor, says Elon Musk canceled his new present on X

Nicely, that was quick.

Don Lemon introduced Wednesday that Elon Musk had canceled the previous CNN anchor’s new speak present on the social media platform X — earlier than an episode even debuted.

In a assertion posted on X, Lemon claimed that Musk was upset about an interview he did with Lemon on Friday, virtually precisely two months after their deal was introduced.

“There have been no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to, and my questions have been respectful and broad ranging, protecting all the pieces from SpaceX to the presidential election,” Lemon stated. “We had dialog. Clearly he felt otherwise.”

Lemon stated the interview with Musk would nonetheless be out there to look at on YouTube and X. “Whereas Elon goes again on his phrase, I shall be doubling down on my dedication to free speech,” he stated.

In a subsequent video clip posted on X, Lemon straight addresses his smartphone digicam and says: “Hello, everybody. Elon Musk is mad at me.”

In a put up, one in every of X’s verified company accounts confirmed the corporate had “determined to not enter right into a industrial partnership with the present.” When an X consumer requested for particular causes, Musk replied from his private deal with and accused Lemon of being a mouthpiece for former CNN chief Jeff Zucker, who stepped down in early 2022.

“As an alternative of it being the actual Don Lemon, it was actually simply Jeff Zucker speaking by way of Don, so lacked authenticity,” Musk stated partly.

Lemon, who was fired from CNN final April, made a content material pact with X in January as a part of what the corporate billed as a push to increase video choices. The web site additionally teamed up with former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii, and sports activities persona Jim Rome.

“Elon publicly inspired me to hitch X with a brand new present, saying I might have his ‘full help,’ and that his ‘digital city sq. is for all.’ … I took Elon and his administration crew’s phrase that they, for the primary time, have been fascinated by working straight with new and numerous voices,” Lemon stated in his assertion.

Musk, who took management of what was previously often called Twitter in late 2022, vowed to make the platform an enviornment for “free speech.” He has drawn intense scrutiny for propagating misinformation and giving a platform to conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones.

The tech mogul’s first media partnership was with the previous Fox Information host and right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson, who has since launched his personal impartial media enterprise.

Lemon introduced he had been terminated from CNN on the identical day that Fox Information stated it was parting methods with Carlson. The information of Lemon’s exit got here after Selection revealed an article about allegations that he had mistreated feminine colleagues over his profession.

He has denied these allegations.

Lemon additionally confronted backlash for making on-air feedback about then-Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley that have been broadly considered as sexist and ageist.

This text first appeared on NBCNews.com. Extra from NBC Information: