Staff Reports
In a recent twist worthy of a daytime soap opera, former CNN star Don Lemon has decided to take his talents from cable news punditry to the courtroom, filing a lawsuit against tech mogul Elon Musk and X—aka Twitter. Lemon’s accusations read like a script for a legal thriller, alleging Musk committed fraud, breached their contract, and even misappropriated his name and likeness. Apparently, the suit was filed right after Lemon’s exclusive content contract with X was canceled, just one day after Musk indulged Lemon with an interview on his show. Who knew a chat could lead to such a legal mess?
Lemon’s lawsuit claims that Musk and his team had hidden agendas in mind when they pitched the deal. According to the allegations, they were supposedly interested in using Lemon’s name to revitalize their image and attract advertisers—a strategy that Lemon contends he would have never agreed to had he known the true motives behind the partnership. It seems Lemon’s signature on the contract was more like a low-budget magic trick: now you see it, now you don’t, and here comes the fine print.
Ex-CNN host Don Lemon on Thursday launched a lawsuit against X owner Elon Musk over the cancellation of his unaired show which had been slated to feature on the site. https://t.co/lVP6FXVjOL
— FoxNashville (@FOXNashville) August 1, 2024
The saga began when Lemon signed a one-year deal in January 2024, which was supposed to include producing weekly long-form videos and a smattering of short-form content, all for a cool $1.5 million. On top of that, there were options to renew and other lucrative perks that would make any media personality swoon. But just as the ink dried, Musk pulled the rug out from under Lemon, canceling the contract barely two months later. One can almost hear the dramatic music building in the background.
For those keeping score, X has struggled mightily ever since Musk took the reins, witnessing a staggering 78% drop in advertising revenue shortly after his acquisition in late 2022. The loss of advertisers has led many to speculate whether bringing Lemon on board was a desperate move to woo back those fleeing ad dollars, especially with Lemon still reeling from his abrupt ousting at CNN. Newsflash: trying to catch advertisers while wielding the flaming wreckage of Lemon’s career might not be the ultimate comeback strategy.
While the court proceedings commence, neither Lemon’s team nor X was willing to share their thoughts on this spectacle. It raises an important question—will the courtroom drama deliver a riveting sequel, or will it flop harder than Lemon’s ratings post-CNN? One thing’s for sure: when it comes to legal battles in the age of social media, the audience can always count on a drama-filled ride. And when packing the courtroom, Lemon’s team might want to consider bringing popcorn, because this is likely to get entertaining.
