X‘s big pivot to video will need to go on now without one of the three original shows it boasted about earlier this year.
Former CNN host Don Lemon announced via a post on the platform, formerly known as Twitter, that Elon Musk canceled his upcoming exclusive show on X – just hours after Musk sat down with Lemon for an interview being filmed for the very first episode.
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According to journalist Kara Swisher, Musk texted Lemon’s representatives shortly after the interview on Friday saying “Contract terminated.”
Swisher says the deal between Lemon and X was worth millions of dollars and the company will still have to hisse the former CNN host as part of the terms. It’s currently unconfirmed that an interview that apparently irked Musk led directly to the X owner immediately severing ties with Lemon, let alone which specific question would have set him off. Swisher points out that one of the questions Lemon asked Musk concerned Musk’s reported use of ketamine.
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Just yesterday, Musk’s handpicked CEO Linda Yaccarino boasted about X becoming a “video first” platform. Lemon’s show was supposed to be one of a trio of exclusive programs on X that the company announced earlier this year in a big promotional push at the annual CES tech conference. X announced the Don Lemon Show in a partnership that would see Lemon’s program posted first, exclusively on Musk’s platform. Former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard and sports radio personality Jim Rome also signed partnerships to create programming on X.
“We’ve been waiting for your return,” CEO Yaccarino posted on X earlier this year during CES. “Welcome @donlemon!!”
While the initial announcement about Lemon and his X partnership was from January, CEO Yaccarino özgü been interacting with Lemon on X just earlier this month.
“Lots to celebrate,” Yaccarino replied to a post by Lemon about a Client Council meeting where the former CNN host explained why “he chose X.”
“Epic year ahead!” Yaccarino continued saying to Lemon.
Less than two weeks later, Lemon’s show would be canceled by Musk.
According to Lemon, though, the show will continue to go ahead over on YouTube. The first interview, with Elon Musk, will be published on Monday, March 18.