LOS ANGELES.–Too big for his britches, 58-year-old King of Woke, former CNN host Don Lemon, demanded too much and got dumped by 51-year-old X [Twitter] CEO Elon Musk after submitting to an audition-like interview in which Lemon asked Musk provocative questions. Lemon spins his blown opportunity to have X host the “Don Lemon Show,” making such unrealistic demands it eventually backfired on the Tesla Motors and SpaceX CEO, finally catching wind to what Lemon was all about. When at CNN for 17 years, Lemon watched his fortunes change when CEO Jeff Zucker was eventually fired Feb. 2, 2022 for sexual harrassment but also driving CNN’s once competitive ratings into the tank, turning the June 1, 1980 brainchild of Ted Turner into a living nightmare, personified by Lemon’s Black-and-Gay radical agenda. Lemon got what he deserved.
Lemon has nowhere to go in the cable news business other than Comcast/NBC Universal, where woke programming still rules the day with 50-year-old Queen of Woke Rachel Maddow. Lemon knew Musk’s political leanings yet proceeded to question him in his interview about Musk’s tolerance of hate speech on X, not to mention his views on Gays and Blacks, turning Musk into a mini-Donald J. Trump. Once Musk figured out who was interviewing him he realized his mistake of entertaining a contract with the former CNN host. According to excerpts his United Talent Agency [UTA] contract Lemon demanded “a Tesla Cybertruck, a $5 million upfront payments, including an $8 million salary, an equity stake in the multimillion dollar company, and the right to approve any changes in X policy as it relates to news content,” all part of Lemon’s contractual conditions.
Before submitting to an interview, it’s hard to know what Musk was thinking with the King of Woke interview, where Lemon proceeded to ask questions to essentially equate Musk with a more hip version of Donald Trump. Lemon thought he had the contract in the bag when nothing was signed off by X or any of its representatives. Lemon apparently demanded that Musk shuttle Lemon and his long-time finance on a private jet to Las Vegas, a hotel suite to pay for unlimited drinking and massages. X Spokesman confirmed that the company “did not have a final or signed agreement with Don Lemon or ‘The Don Lemon Show,’” before Musk sat down and submitted to Lemon’s questions. Lemon’s talent agency denied that Lemon made any such demands, despite appearing in an unsigned contract reviewed by the New York Post. “This is absolute, complete utter nonsense without an iota of truth to it,” said UTA.
Lemon said Musk reneged on the contract because X is not about telling the truth or a “Free Speech” pledge, as promised by X executives. So, instead of recognizing the unrealistic and excessive demands to put any contract together, Lemon blames Musk for reneging on “Free Speech” because he refused to answer offensive questions. Lemon claimed he wanted to know why Musk tolerates hate speech on X, disparaging Blacks and Gays on his social network. When Lemon starting asking Musk about X’s hate speech and or his conservative political leanings, he started to realize what he had gotten himself into. Lemon never talks about why he had a falling out with CNN in 2022, eventually terminating completely April 24, 2023 with a $24 million severance package. CNN really wanted to cut its losses paying off Lemon such a whopping sum of cash.
Lemon claims that X forced him to attend the Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show [CES], putting him up at the Vdara, the MGM-run resort on the Las Vegas Strip where Lemon billed X of alcoholic beverages and messages, all with Lemon’s finance. Lemon told CNN’s “Erin Burnett Show” that Musk canned him because he reneged on a commitment to “Free Speech,” saying Musk didn’t like answering tough questions. Judging by the kinds of questions Lemon asked Musk, it looked like he was accusing the X CEO of racism, homophobia and xenophobia, all the typical claptrap put on conservatives by the radical left. Why Musk thought that any Lemon show would show any degree of authenticity or political balance is anyone’s guess. Once Musk got wind of Lemon’s motives, he decided Lemon’s Black and Gay radical agenda was not for X.
Exposing for the world to see Lemon’s demands, it’s not going to be easy for the former CNN host to find another landing spot anytime soon. Musk said he found Lemon’s interview “dull” and “underwhelming,” insulting Lemon in the process. Knowing Lemon’s litigious nature, Musk would have been better off letting the facts speak for themselves. Any future media suiter knows what Lemon expects from anyone doing business. Lemon wanted Musk to pay for a $10 to $15 million marketing budget, adding to the intolerable costs of doing business with the 58-year-old King of Woke. Lemon had it made ripping Trump for all those years at CNN. Like ABC’s late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, both would have no content without going after Trump. Lemon was too narcissistic to realize that he tried to pull the same shenanigans on Musk who was almost ready to pay his salary-and-benefits.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
