Former CNN anchor Don Lemon shocked the media after he filed a lawsuit against Tesla CEO Elon Musk and X.
Lemon filed the suit alleging fraud and breach of contract on Musk’s part. The lawsuit claimed that Musk and X promised the former CNN anchor complete creative control and a $1.5 million guarantee for a content partnership but refused to deliver on their promises.
Initially, the lawsuit claimed that Musk and X’s representatives promised the liberal anchor would have full authority and control over the work he produced even if Musk and his executives disliked it.
The content partnership deal, which was announced in October, crashed less than five months, a few days before the first broadcast was set to air on X. Musk criticized Lemon’s approach, calling it “basically just CNN, but on social media.”
Don Lemon just announced he is suing me because I scrapped his X show after he attacked me in our interview.
Did I make a mistake getting rid of his terrible show?
A. Yes
B. No pic.twitter.com/0YKPTYFzJR— Not Elon Musk (@iamnot_elon) August 2, 2024
Lemon released the first episode of the show on social media after the deal was canceled, featuring a tense discussion with the Tesla CEO who also owns X. During the discussion, Musk defended his prescription usage of Ketamine, alleging that the drug helped him ease a negative chemical mind state. The Tesla CEO also expressed frustration with Lemon’s questioning style.
According to the lawsuit, X executives used Lemon to boost their advertising sales pitch but canceled the partnership, damaging his reputation. Lemon’s attorney, Carney R. Shegerian, tagged the case as straightforward and claimed that Musk and X intentionally misrepresented their intentions.
This was epic- Elon Musk telling Don Lemon “you want censorship, and I don’t”
“Freedom of speech only is relevant when people you don’t like say things you don’t like. Otherwise, it has no meaning”
– @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/E7MW2iqGIF— Tonya de Vitti (@TonyadeVitti) July 27, 2024
The lawsuit also claims that Musk and his representatives, including X CEO Linda Yaccarino, aimed to capitalize on Lemon’s name and professional status. The suit also claims that Musk and his employers aimed to rehabilitate X’s reputation after major advertisers left the platform due to Musk’s endorsement of an antisemitic post.
Lemon’s lawsuit further claims he incurred hundreds of thousands of dollars to establish his own media company to produce content for X.
Lemon’s attorney further stated that the former CNN anchor is committed to defending his name and looks forward to their day in court. The lawsuit seeks damages or fraud, breach of contract, and reputational harm.
“You don’t have to be a genius to see the fraud, negligence, and reputational damage here,” Shegerian said in a statement.