Former CNN Anchor Don Lemon Sues Elon Musk For $1.5 Million Over X Deal After Interview Goes Off The Rails

Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk, alleging fraud and breach of contract over a canceled talk show on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The suit, filed Thursday in California Superior Court, claims Lemon was promised $1.5 million for a one-year deal to host a show on the social media platform. According to the complaint, the agreement included a $200,000 upfront payment, potential renewals and a share of advertising revenue.

Lemon, 58, announced plans for the X-based show in January, following his departure from CNN amid controversy. The project came to an abrupt end after an interview with Musk, who owns X, in March.

During the interview, Lemon reportedly pressed Musk on issues such as advertiser boycotts and content moderation policies on X. The exchange grew tense, with Musk allegedly warning Lemon about time constraints.

Shortly after, Musk announced the cancellation of the show on X, citing a decision not to pursue a commercial partnership. He characterized the program as “CNN, but on social media” and suggested it lacked authenticity.

The lawsuit alleges that Musk failed to honor financial commitments to Lemon, despite using the journalist’s name and reputation to attract advertisers to X. Lemon’s legal team claims Musk provided contradictory reasons for withholding payment.

The suit acknowledges that Lemon never signed a formal contract. The complaint states Musk had deemed paperwork unnecessary.

Lemon’s attorney, Carney Shegerian, told The New York Times that X executives exploited his client’s reputation for advertising purposes before terminating the partnership and damaging Lemon’s public image.

The lawsuit seeks damages for multiple claims, including fraud, breach of contract, misappropriation of name and likeness and unjust enrichment. It argues that Musk’s actions showed disregard for Lemon’s rights and caused both economic and non-economic harm to the journalist’s reputation.

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