Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo shared the epic wish list his old colleague and friend Don Lemon sent to Elon Musk before his boss at Company X asked him to go hiking last week. “I’m not surprised,” the Post reported.
Cuomo, who moved to NewsNation after being fired by CNN, can’t help but be impressed by the “bullshit act” of demanding a free Cybertruck and a seat on a SpaceX rocket to broadcast the first-ever extraterrestrial podcast. Sources said it was not possible. he told the Thursday Post.
“Don thinks of himself as Angelina Jolie,” the source said. “He thinks he’s a star.”
The deal was for an $8 million salary, plus a $5 million advance, stock in the company, and editorial control of the social media site in exchange for a show on X, the Post last reported. Exclusively reported. week.
“Chris is not surprised by Don’s long list of demands. He knows who Don is,” a source close to both men told the Post.
“He admires his own silliness. When you’re dealing with the richest man in the world, you have to ask for the moon and the stars.”
The newspaper reached out to Cuomo and Lemon for comment.
The brash Lemon has been in the media spotlight since he was fired last week after taping an interview with Musk on March 8, which was supposed to be the debut episode of this week’s “Don Lemon Show.”
The people said Mr. Cuomo was “shocked” that Mr. Lemon first complained about his firing at CNN, where he fired the gaffe-prone morning show host last April.
“After Chris was fired, he was devastated. He was a mess,” a source said.
“Last week, Don reappeared on CNN to be interviewed by Erin Burnett,” the source said.
Since then, Lemon has appeared on “The View” and was a walk-on segment on Thursday’s episode of “The Tamron Hall Show.”
He posted the second episode of “The Don Lemon Show” on Wednesday.
Lemon almost admitted to making the request. Interview with Mediaite Editor-in-Chief Aidan McLaughlin, before dismissing all the fuss about his diva-like list as “nonsense.”
“People negotiate all the time,” Lemon said. “But that’s it, come on. It’s definitely a change of direction.”
Media critics have rolled their eyes at Lemon’s massive press tour to talk about the firings, while also streaming on YouTube, X and other platforms. We are trying to raise the profile of the program.
“He loves the attention. He has no intention of giving this up,” said a media source close to Lemon. “Don thinks this is a promotion. He thinks he’s building a prototype. He’s streaming. He doesn’t have to worry about his boss at his company.”
“He’s just putting the show on YouTube and X and hoping to make millions of dollars. Good luck,” the source said.
The person noted that Lemon’s strategy of starting a media company that produces shows and podcasts for the Internet is not new.
“Katie Couric did the same thing,” the source said, referring to the former “Today” show host’s namesake media company, which produces podcasts and Web programming, among other things.
“At the time, her publicist said she was blazing a new path,” the source said, noting that despite her efforts, Couric’s profile has waned.
“It’s over for her and for him,” the source said. “it’s over.”
Cuomo and Lemon’s friendship continues to end.
The two had a well-documented bromance while hosting CNN’s prime-time show, and appeared outside Cuomo’s home when Lemon contracted the coronavirus. Sometimes it happened.
But the two have not spoken since Cuomo was fired in 2021 over his involvement in the defense of his embattled brother, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
“They are not friends,” the first source said, noting that Cuomo was “hurt” that Lemon was openly hostile to him at the time and hasn’t seen him since. did.
Lemon told Mediaite in a podcast interview: He just doesn’t talk to him. I needed a little break, but I love Chris. I love Chris and I love his family and I’m very close to his family, but we’ve never talked, no. ”
