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Don Lemon Says Elon Musk Most 'Touchy' Person He Has Ever Interviewed


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Don Lemon branded Elon Musk the most "touchy" and "sensitive" person he has ever interviewed after their recent sit-down led to the billionaire cutting business ties with the newsman's new show.

Former CNN host Lemon, who was ousted from the network last April, announced in January that he would launch The Don Lemon Show on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter that was acquired by Musk in 2022.

However, Lemon revealed in a video shared on X last Wednesday that the partnership had been called off following a tense interview with the entrepreneur intended for the show's debut episode, set to air on March 18.

"Elon Musk is mad at me," Lemon said in the clip, in which he explained that the deal was off, while he charged that Musk's commitment to "free speech absolutism" faltered when it came to the SpaceX boss facing tough questions. He said that his show would air on multiple platforms, including YouTube and X, adding that the sole change is "my relationship to Musk and X."

In an interview with People published on Sunday, Lemon shared more details about the fallout as he took aim at the billionaire businessman.

When asked if he foresaw his premiere interview with Musk falling apart, Lemon responded: "The possibility of Elon Musk being unpredictable and erratic, yeah. Of course, I knew that. I went into this with my eyes open.

"I've interviewed many world leaders, presidents to convicts, and no one has been more sensitive or touchy than Elon Musk. And during the interview and during other interviews, he constantly says he doesn't care what people write or say about him. For someone who doesn't care about what people write or say about him, he sure does care about what people write or say about him."

"He's not used to being held to account," Lemon added. "He's not used to having to answer to anyone, especially someone like me who doesn't share his worldview, who doesn't look like him. You know what I'm saying?

"When I questioned him about things that he put out on social media, posted, or tweeted that weren't factual, it was very uncomfortable for him. To the point to where [he and his team] wanted to see the interview before it aired. Which was a big capital N no."

Lemon added that "there was so much to get out of the way" in the interview. "'Why did you tweet this about Black people? Why did you say this about DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion)? Why did you say this about a woman pilot? Why did you say this about Jewish people?' I had to know that and the audience needs to know that. And for him to think that that wasn't going to happen, that was really naïve if he thought that."

Newsweek reached out to a representative of Musk via email for comment.

A preview of the interview shared by Lemon showed the broadcaster grilling Musk about his admitted use of ketamine, which the entrepreneur has said that he uses legally to offset his depression.

Following the announcement of the severed deal, Musk said in an X post that Lemon was welcome to launch his show on the platform "without censorship." However, he claimed that Lemon's "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 [former CNN president] Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so lacked authenticity. All this said, Lemon/Zucker are of course welcome to build their viewership on this platform along with everyone else," Musk said.

Don Lemon and Elon Musk
L-R: Don Lemon in New York City on February 1 and Elon Musk in Paris, France, on June 16, 2023. Lemon called Musk the most "touchy" person he has ever interviewed. Randy Brooke/Getty Images;/Chesnot/Getty Images

Early Thursday, Musk alleged in an X post that "Zucker wrote the questions" for his interview with Musk.

In a written statement posted to X on Wednesday, Lemon said that Musk "informed me of his decision hours after an interview I conducted with him on Friday."

"There were no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to, and my questions were respectful and wide ranging, covering everything from SpaceX to the presidential election," he said. "We had a good conversation. Clearly he felt differently. His commitment to a global town square where all questions can be asked and all ideas can be shared seems to not include questions of him from people like me."

Lemon also said Musk had "publicly encouraged" him to join X with a new show. He claimed that Musk assured him of his "full support" and stated that his "digital town square is for all."

Stating that he decided to work with Musk as it would ensure his work was seen by a wide audience, he added: "I took Elon and his management team's word that they, for the first time, were interested in working directly with new and diverse voices."

The Don Lemon Show is set to premiere on platforms including X on March 18.

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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.

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