Don Lemon, the ex-CNN host, reportedly settled for approximately $24.5 million about a year after leaving the network.
The severance pay is believed to match Lemon’s expected earnings had he remained with CNN until the end of his contract, which had about three and a half years left when he exited. CNN, however, disputed these claims.
A CNN spokesperson stated to The Post, “While we never comment on specifics of any employee contract, this story is incorrect.” It remains unclear whether the denial refers to the settlement itself or the amount cited by sources.
Lemon was released from CNN in April after a brief, contentious period as a morning show co-host. His firing was initiated by then-CEO Chris Licht, who was later dismissed as well. This occurred two months after Lemon’s public apology for claiming that GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley, a woman above 50, was beyond her “prime”.
Lemon, who was surprised by the abrupt termination, learned about it through his agent. He expressed his shock and disappointment on social media, indicating that he was not given any hint that his employment would be terminated.
Lemon had planned to host his own show, “The Don Lemon Show,” on Elon Musk’s X platform. X unveiled new content partnerships with Lemon, former U.S. congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and sports radio host Jim Rome. These partnerships aimed to enhance video content on the site, which has been grappling with advertiser retention since Musk’s 2022 acquisition. Yet, during a discussion on Wednesday, March 13, Lemon disclosed that his collaboration with Musk ended disastrously. This announcement followed Lemon’s interview with Musk, marking the inaugural episode of Lemon’s new independent online show.
According to Lemon, Musk initially encouraged him to start a new show on X with the promise of full backing. Lemon believed Musk was genuinely interested in engaging with diverse voices.
Later that same Wednesday, Lemon appeared on CNN’s show with Erin Burnett. During his appearance, Lemon discussed his interaction with Musk and shared clips from their 90-minute conversation covering various topics.
In the discussion, Lemon challenged Musk about the noticeable rise in hate speech on X following Musk’s acquisition last year. He questioned Musk about his responsibility and that of his company to suppress hateful expressions.
Musk replied, “I’m not obliged to respond to journalists’ queries, Don. The sole reason I’m participating in this interview is due to your presence on the X platform and at your request. Without these factors, I wouldn’t have agreed to this conversation.”
Lemon also questioned Musk about his recent meeting with ex-President Donald Trump. CNN had earlier confirmed that Musk was among the attendees at a series of meetings in Palm Beach, Florida, where Trump was seeking additional campaign funding.
“My attendance was at a breakfast hosted by a friend where Donald Trump appeared. That’s all there is to it,” Musk noted, adding that Trump dominated the conversation.
Musk clarified that despite Trump facing significant civil judgments and ongoing criminal proceedings, he didn’t solicit financial support from Musk. Musk emphatically stated, “I am not covering his legal expenses in any way.”
Furthermore, Lemon touched on Musk’s public admission of using the drug ketamine and asked if this could affect his government security clearance. Musk dismissed these concerns, stating he holds a prescription for the medication.
Following the interview, Lemon shared on social media that his conversation with Musk for the debut episode of “The Don Lemon Show” covered a wide range of topics and was conducted respectfully. He added there were “no restrictions imposed on the interview to which he [Musk] had willingly agreed.”
However, Lemon criticized Musk’s claim of supporting a universal forum for addressing questions and exchanging ideas, stating it does not seem to extend to Musk answering inquiries about himself.
Lemon further critiqued Musk’s endorsement of “unrestricted free speech” in a video shared on his social media platforms on Wednesday.
An insider reported that Musk seemed displeased after Lemon questioned him about his ketamine use, government secrets clearance, and issues related to antisemitism, although the interview has not yet been publicly released.
In response, X issued a statement defending Musk’s decision to end its arrangement with Lemon.
The company stated that “The Don Lemon Show” is free to share its content on X, as they support creators in expanding their work and reaching diverse audiences. However, the company emphasized its autonomy to assess its business partnerships, leading to the decision not to pursue a commercial relationship with Lemon’s show.
Responding to an X user’s question about the decision, Musk criticized Lemon and CNN (despite its non-involvement in Lemon’s recent project), suggesting that Lemon’s approach seemed to mirror CNN’s failing social media strategy. He also implied that the show seemed more a vehicle for Jeff Zucker, the former CNN head, than an expression of Lemon’s own viewpoint.
Nonetheless, a representative for Lemon insisted that Musk should meet the financial obligations of their arrangement.
“Don has an agreement with X and expects compensation,” the spokesperson stressed, adding that legal action would be pursued if necessary.
Although no formal contract was signed with X, sources familiar with the situation state that an agreement doesn’t need to be formally inked to be legally binding, especially if there’s evidence of a mutual understanding. Lemon’s team is confident that an agreement existed, especially since X publicly hinted at such a deal earlier, and Musk appeared to confirm this by telling Jay Sures, Lemon’s agent, that the “contract is canceled.”
Last year, Musk had encouraged Lemon to start a show on X, stating on the platform that personalities like Rachel Maddow and Don Lemon would be beneficial. He highlighted the platform’s vast audience and pledged full support without requiring exclusivity or legal documentation. This was part of Musk’s wider call for diversifying voices on the platform.
Despite his self-proclaimed commitment to unrestricted free speech, Musk has been known to limit critics’ voices on his platform, including suspending journalists and taking legal action against those who critique X.
Musk’s management style has come under scrutiny as he has attacked journalists and mainstream media while promoting conspiracy theories and extremist views.
Last year, Musk faced backlash for promoting an antisemitic conspiracy theory, resulting in a significant exodus of advertisers from X until Musk apologized for his comments days later.
