Don Lemon is suing Elon Musk and X after his show was axed on the platform, alleging that the billionaire and his company failed to pay him after promising $1.5 million annually, full control over his content, and financial incentives to attract advertisers. The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of California, accuses Musk and X of fraud, breach of contract, and misappropriation of Lemon’s name and likeness. Musk had taken over X, formerly known as Twitter, and approached Lemon in May 2023 after the anchor was terminated by CNN, offering him a partnership deal without a formal agreement.
Lemon had reservations about partnering with X due to ongoing controversies surrounding the platform, but Musk assured him that he would have full authority and control over the content he produced. The deal presented to Lemon in January 2024 included exclusive rights to specific video content, with Lemon receiving 60% of gross advertising revenue and performance threshold payments based on follower counts. The show was supposed to cover politics, culture, sports, and entertainment, running exclusively on the platform with 30-minute episodes shared three times a week. However, Lemon asserts that Musk and X never intended to fulfill their promises and only sought to profit off Lemon’s reputation by publicizing their partnership.
The contentious interview between Lemon and Musk on March 8, the first episode of “The Don Lemon Show,” resulted in Musk cancelling Lemon’s partnership and contract within a day after Lemon pressed him on various topics including his meeting with Donald Trump and alleged hate speech on X. Despite promises made to Lemon, X and Musk claimed there was no signed agreement and refused to compensate him. Lemon alleges that X and Musk gained the benefits of using his name to promote themselves but failed to follow through on their agreement, causing him financial losses, emotional distress, and humiliation. The lawsuit also includes allegations of negligent misrepresentation and unjust enrichment.
Carney Shegerian, Lemon’s attorney, stated that the situation demonstrates fraud, negligence, and reputational damage inflicted on Lemon by X and Musk. Lemon had incurred substantial expenses in forming his own media company, entering production deals, purchasing equipment, and hiring staff, only to have the partnership with X fall apart without compensation. Following Lemon’s termination from CNN and the subsequent partnership with X, he now seeks legal recourse for the damages suffered to his career and personal well-being. Musk and X have not yet responded to NBC News requests for comment on the lawsuit.
In the wake of the lawsuit, Lemon continues to seek justice and reparation for the alleged breach of contract and misrepresentation by X and Musk. The legal battle between Lemon and the tech billionaire shines a light on the complexities of media partnerships and the challenges faced by public figures navigating the changing landscape of digital content creation. The outcome of the lawsuit will likely have implications for the future of media partnerships and the accountability of companies and individuals in upholding their promises and agreements. Lemon remains committed to seeking justice and holding X and Musk accountable for their actions in the aftermath of their failed partnership. The repercussions of this legal dispute could have far-reaching effects on the media industry and the treatment of public figures in partnership agreements.
