In the wake of Don Lemon’s show cancellation on X, it has been reported by the New York Post that the ex-CNN anchor asked for outlandish and extravagant compensation in return for hosting his show on the social media platform.
The potential contract included such demands as $5 million up front on top of an $8 million salary, an equity stake in the platform and even the right to sign off on X policies as they relate to news content, it has been learned.
But that’s not all. For extra icing on the cake, it is reported that Lemon asked for a free Tesla Cybertruck, as well as a private jet flight to Las Vegas, a private suite for him and his fiance and payment for his daily drinking and massages.
Despite being aware of the grandiose demands, Elon Musk still agreed to hold the ill-fated interview with him as a courtesy to him launching his show on X. However, after the hour-and-a-half interview turned into an interrogation session by the ideologically-motivated Lemon, X has canceled hosting his show.
The funniest part about the Don Lemon story is that for all he demanded, his show wasn’t even going to be exclusive to 𝕏, he was just going to post it here first and then to other platforms 24 hours later.
How could someone be so delusional to request all of that 🤣
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) March 16, 2024
“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 Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so lacked authenticity,” said Musk.
Musk later added in an X post that even though he thinks Don Lemon “is a pompous fool who spouts nonsense, he is still free to upload his show to X and will receive advertising revenue.”
Nevertheless, Lemon still attempted to cry foul and paint Musk as a free speech hypocrite. Speaking to CNN’s Erin Burnett in an interview about the fall out, Lemon questioned Musk’s commitment to free speech and said, “Apparently, that doesn‘t matter to Elon Musk. It’s just maybe for talking points for him or rhetoric, because it doesn‘t seem to matter when it‘s questions about him from people like me.”
What Lemon fails to realize about free speech is that although his contract with X was canceled, he is still being allowed to say what he wants on the platform. Free speech does not mean a job or a contract. But of course, he knows he sounds better if he can try to paint himself as a victim and Musk as a tyrannical hypocrite.
Lemon has promised to deliver the full interview on March 18 for the rest of the world to judge.
