Disgraced CNN anchor Don Lemon filed a lawsuit Thursday alleging that X head Elon Musk refused to pay him after a partnership with the social media platform was shelved.
The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco, alleges that Lemon, who was fired shortly after a controversial interview with Musk in March, violated his contract and used his name to attract potential advertisers.
“This case is straightforward: Company X executives used Don to bolster their own advertising efforts, then dissolved the partnership and tarnished Don’s name,” said Lemon’s lawyer, Carney Shegerian.
“It doesn’t take a genius to see the fraud, negligence and reputational damage here. Don is a talented, hard-hitting journalist committed to defending his own reputation and holding X executives accountable. We look forward to our day in court,” he added.
Lemon’s lawsuit alleges that he agreed to a one-year contract worth at least $1.5 million, a 60% cut of advertising revenue and performance-based bonuses based on the show’s following.
He also claims he was forced to give a speech praising the platform in front of potential advertisers.
Musk did not immediately comment on the lawsuit.
According to reports, Lemon was seeking $8 million in compensation, plus a $5 million upfront payment and equity in the social media platform to produce the show.
He also reportedly demanded a free Tesla Cybertruck, a private jet with a suite for him and his fiancée to fly to Las Vegas, and for the company to cover the cost of daytime drinking and massages, as reported exclusively by The Washington Post.
The interview with Musk was meant to be the launch of a new show for Lemon’s X Channel.
But after tense discussions that included Lemon grilling Musk about hate speech on the platform, the billionaire called Lemon’s representatives to tell them the deal was off.
Musk slammed Lemon in a social media post on March 13, saying he had decided to pull the plug on the project because the host “lacked authenticity.”
He said Lemon’s approach was “CNN on social media, and as CNN’s decline proves, it’s not working.”
The former “CNN This Morning” anchor was fired in April 2023 after a series of on-air controversies, including his infamous claim that Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was “not in her prime” and shouldn’t comment on other politicians’ ages.
As the publication previously reported, he also clashed with co-host Kaitlan Collins, allegedly “yelling” at her off-camera, leading to Collins running from the studio.
