It’s hardly been a banner year for Don Lemon.
To make matters worse he just got even more bad news.
And Don Lemon is fit to be tied after Elon Musk hit him with yet another epic reality check.
Back in April, former CNN host Don Lemon was terminated from his anchor role at the network.
In a memo provided to NBC News, CNN’s then-CEO Chris Licht said that the network and Lemon had “parted ways,” though it was pretty clear at the time that the break-up was hardly mutual.
One big thing that got him into trouble was when he had said on his show that former Trump UN Ambassador Nikki Haley “isn’t in her prime” at the age of 51.
Caterwauling ensued, and Lemon was forced to walk back his remarks.
The reference I made to a woman’s “prime” this morning was inartful and irrelevant, as colleagues and loved ones have pointed out, and I regret it. A woman’s age doesn't define her either personally or professionally. I have countless women in my life who prove that every day.
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) February 16, 2023
It was just the latest in a long list of missteps that embarrassed the network, and ultimately led to his firing.
But Lemon’s mouth may have just got him into trouble again.
Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk is the latest to find Lemon’s bitter personality to be off-putting.
Musk canceled a partnership Lemon had to produce his own show on X after the disgraced former CNN talking head attempted to use an interview to help advance Democrats’ character assassination attempts against the X owner for his support of free speech.
Lemon said, “Elon publicly encouraged me to join X with a new show, saying I would have his ‘full support,’ and that his ‘digital town square is for all.’ He and his team pursued the deal in numerous conversations and made significant commitments about the support X would provide for the show.”
Elon Musk canceled #TheDonLemonShow👀
Watch on YouTube and listen everywhere on Monday March 18. pic.twitter.com/AAhnvcY0ny
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) March 13, 2024
Musk: On second thought, Don: No Thanks!
He continued, “There were no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to, and my questions were respectful and wide-ranging, covering everything from SpaceX to the presidential election. We had a good conversation. Clearly he felt differently. His commitment to a global town square where all questions can be asked and all ideas can be shared seems not to include questions of him from people like me.”
But in Musk’s telling, the show was just destined to be another stinker.
Musk wrote, “His approach was basically just ‘CNN, but on social media,’ which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying. And, instead of it being the real Don Lemon, it was really just [former CNN President and anti-Trumper] Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so lacked authenticity. All this said, Lemon/Zucker are of course welcome to build their viewership on this platform along with everyone else.”
In a statement to Fox News, an X Spokesperson said, “X is a platform that champions free speech, and we’re proud to provide an open environment for diverse voices and perspectives. The Don Lemon Show is welcome to publish its content on X, without censorship, as we believe in providing a platform for creators to scale their work and connect with new communities. However, like any enterprise, we reserve the right to make decisions about our business partnerships, and after careful consideration, X decided not to enter into a commercial partnership with the show.”
In the end, Lemon is now on a level playing field.
If he wants to get clicks and views, he has the same potential as everyone else on the social media platform, without any special deals.
Musk may well be onto something, though.
If The Don Lemon Show is anything like its low-rated CNN iteration, it promises to be a snoozer.
US Political Daily will keep you updated on any developments to this ongoing story.
