Don Lemon, the former CNN host, is said to have agreed to a separation deal worth approximately $24.5 million, roughly a year after his departure from the network.
The severance payment is calculated to match the remuneration Lemon, aged 57, would have received if he had continued to work with CNN until the termination of his contract, which was three and a half years from the time he was let go. However, CNN denied the report on Tuesday.
“While we never comment on specifics of any employee contract, this story is incorrect,” a CNN spokesperson informed The Post. The network’s representative did not immediately respond when asked whether the denial referred to the settlement itself or to the figure indicated by the Wrap’s sources.
Lemon was dismissed from CNN in April following a brief, stormy stint as a morning show co-host. The decision was made by then-CEO Chris Licht, who was later dismissed himself. Lemon’s dismissal occurred two months after he publicly apologized for stating that GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley, a woman over 50, was past her “prime”.
At the time, Lemon claimed he was caught off guard by the sudden termination and learned of it through his agent. He expressed his disbelief and disappointment on social media, stating that he wasn’t given any indication that he would be let go from the job he loved.
Lemon was planning to host his own program, “The Don Lemon Show,” on Elon Musk’s X platform. X announced new content collaborations with Lemon, former U.S. congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and sports radio host Jim Rome. The aim of these partnerships was to boost video content on the site, which has been struggling to hold onto advertisers since Musk purchased the company in 2022. However, during a recent discussion on Wednesday, March 13, Lemon revealed that his collaboration with Elon Musk ended disastrously. This announcement came shortly after Lemon, the ex-CNN host, had an interview with Musk, who is known for his unpredictable behavior, marking the first episode of Lemon’s new independent online show last week.
Lemon, in his remarks, mentioned that Musk had initially encouraged him openly to start a new show on X, promising him his “complete backing.” Lemon believed Musk’s assurance of being genuinely interested in engaging with a variety of voices.
Lemon also made an appearance on CNN’s show with Erin Burnett that same Wednesday evening. During this appearance, he talked about his interaction with Musk and presented clips from their 90-minute conversation, where he posed various questions to Musk on a multitude of subjects.
Lemon highlighted that he had challenged Musk regarding the noticeable increase in hate speech on X following the tech mogul’s acquisition of the social media site last year. He inquired whether Musk felt that he and his company bore an obligation to curb hateful expressions.
Musk retorted, “I’m not obliged to respond to journalists’ queries, Don. The sole reason I’m partaking in this interview is due to your presence on the X platform and because you requested it. If not for that, I wouldn’t have agreed to this conversation.”
Lemon further queried Musk about his recent interaction with ex-President Donald Trump. CNN had earlier verified that Musk was part of a series of meetings in Palm Beach Trump had with contributors, looking to gather more funds for his campaign under financial duress.
“My attendance was at a breakfast hosted by a friend where Donald Trump made an appearance. That sums it up,” Musk mentioned, noting that the conversation was predominantly driven by Trump.
Musk clarified that despite Trump dealing with a significant amount of over half a billion dollars in civil judgments and several ongoing criminal proceedings, he did not seek financial support from Musk. Musk emphatically stated, “I am not covering his legal expenses in any capacity.”
Furthermore, Lemon touched upon Musk’s public admission of using the drug ketamine, questioning whether it could affect his approval for government security clearance. According to Lemon, Musk dismissed these concerns, stating he possesses a prescription for the medication.
Following the interview session, Lemon shared on social media that the conversation with Musk for the inaugural episode of “The Don Lemon Show,” set to be broadcast on Monday across social media platforms including X and YouTube, was “respectful and covered a broad spectrum of topics,” mentioning there were “no limitations imposed on the interview to which he had willingly consented.”
Lemon concluded by expressing, “His advocacy for a universal forum where all queries are addressed and ideas are exchanged doesn’t seem to extend to receiving inquiries about himself from individuals like myself.”
In a video shared on his social platforms on Wednesday, Lemon escalated his critique of Musk’s declaration of being a proponent of “unrestricted free speech.”
Although the interview has not been made available to the public yet, an insider with knowledge of the situation mentioned that Musk was noticeably upset after Lemon interrogated him regarding his ketamine usage, his clearance for government secrets, and issues related to antisemitism.
In response, X issued a statement justifying Musk’s choice to terminate its arrangement with Lemon.
The company announced that “The Don Lemon Show” is granted permission to share its material on X freely, as they support creators in expanding their work and engaging with different audiences. Nevertheless, the company underscored that it maintains the autonomy to assess its business collaborations, leading to the decision not to pursue a commercial relationship with Lemon’s program.
A query from an X user about the rationale behind this decision saw Musk critiquing Lemon and CNN, despite CNN’s lack of involvement in Lemon’s recent project.
Musk commented that Lemon’s strategy seemed to replicate CNN’s model on social media, which he deemed unsuccessful, citing CNN’s declining relevance. He also suggested that the show lacked genuineness, appearing more as a conduit for Jeff Zucker, the former CNN head, rather than showcasing Lemon’s own perspective.
However, a representative for Lemon insisted that Musk should fulfill the financial obligations of their arrangement.
The spokesperson highlighted, “Don has an agreement with X and anticipates compensation,” adding that legal action would be pursued if necessary.
While there wasn’t a formal contract signed with X, according to sources familiar with the situation, an agreement doesn’t need to be formally signed to hold legal weight, especially if there’s evidence of a mutual understanding. Lemon’s team is confident that an agreement was in place, particularly since X publicly hinted at such a deal earlier, and Musk seemed to acknowledge this by informing Jay Sures, Lemon’s agent, that the “contract is canceled.”
Musk had encouraged Lemon to initiate a show on his platform, suggesting last year on X that having personalities like Rachel Maddow and Don Lemon would be beneficial, highlighting the platform’s extensive audience and promising full support without the need for exclusivity or legal documentation. This initiative was part of Musk’s broader calls for opening the platform to diverse voices.
Despite proclaiming himself a staunch supporter of unrestricted free speech, Musk has been noted for restricting critics’ voices on his platform, including suspending journalists and taking legal action against those who critique X.
His management style has raised eyebrows, as he has attacked journalists and mainstream media while promoting conspiracy theories and extremist views.
Musk also faced backlash for endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory last year, leading to a significant withdrawal of advertisers from X until Musk expressed regret for his statements days later.