NEW: Don Lemon claims Elon Musk 'canceled' X partnership after interview

Don Lemon's new partnership with X is finished before it even began. Lemon interviewed Elon Musk for his first episode, still set to air on March 18, but after that interview, Musk apparently canceled the partnership.

"Elon Musk is mad at me," Lemon said gleefully in a video after releasing a statement on the matter. Lemon claimed that Musk was "so upset" about an interview that the two did which will be the first episode of the new Don Lemon show. He went on to say that it "doesn't change anything" other than his relationship with the X platform.

"There's a whole lot that went down," Lemon said, hyping the new show, "and I'm going to tell you about it in the coming days," he said. He further acknowledged that he knew his fans didn't want him to work with X, and justified having done so, saying that it was due to his belief in free speech and reaching a wider audience.

He criticized Musk for not wanting to answer some of his questions "about him," saying that "apparently free speech absolutism doesn't apply when it comes to questions about him from people like me."

Lemon went on to encourage people to watch the show, which he said would air on X despite the lack of a partnership deal.

X Business responded to Lemon, saying "X is a platform that champions free speech, and we’re proud to provide an open environment for diverse voices and perspectives. The Don Lemon Show is welcome to publish its content on X, without censorship, as we believe in providing a platform for creators to scale their work and connect with new communities. However, like any enterprise, we reserve the right to make decisions about our business partnerships, and after careful consideration, X decided not to enter into a commercial partnership with the show."
 

In his statement, Lemon said: "Elon Musk has canceled the partnership I had with X, which they announced as part of their public commitment to amplifying more diverse voices on their platform. He informed me of his decision hours after an interview I conducted with him on Friday. That interview will remain the premiere episode of The Don Lemon Show on Monday, March 18," Lemon said.

"Elon publicly encouraged me to join X with a new show, saying I would have his 'full support,' and that his 'digital town square is for all.' He and his team pursued the deal in numerous conversations and made significant commitments about the support X would provide for the show.

"I made the decision to work with them in a unique partnership that I believed would ultimately assure that my work would be available to the most people, in the largest possible venue. I took Elon and his management team's word that they, for the first time, were interested in working directly with new and diverse voices.

"There were no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to, and my questions were respectful and wide ranging, covering everything from SpaceX to the presidential election. We had a good conversation. Clearly he felt differently.

"His commitment to a global town square where all questions can be asked and all ideas can be shared seems not to include questions of him from people like me.

"Our conversation will be available on YouTube, wherever you listen to podcasts and X. This will be just the first of many episodes of The Don Lemon Show. While Elon goes back on his word, I will be doubling down on my commitment to free speech and I cannot wait to get started," he concluded.

Lemon announced the show in January, saying "I've heard you... and today I am back bigger, bolder, freer!" Lemon wrote in a statement posted to X. "My new media company's first project is The Don Lemon Show. It will be available to everyone, easily, whenever and wherever you want it."