Elon Musk’s social media platform X has joined forces with former CNN host Don Lemon, marking the launch of Lemon’s new project, “The Don Lemon Show.” Musk announced the content partnership on Monday, revealing that the exclusive show would cover politics, culture, and entertainment from Lemon’s unique perspective. The episodes, each running for 30 minutes, are set to be released three times a week.
“My new media company’s first project is The Don Lemon Show,” Lemon said. “It will be available to everyone, easily, whenever and wherever you want it, streaming on the platforms where the conversations are happening. And you’ll find it first on X, the biggest space for free speech in the world. I know now more than ever that we need a place for honest debate and discussion without the hall monitors. This is just the beginning so stay tuned.”
This partnership comes less than a year after Lemon was let go from CNN last year after 17 years with the network. At the time of his departure, Lemon expressed shock at the decision and revealed he received no prior indication that his tenure was ending. His exit coincided with the leadership of then-CEO Chris Licht and allegations circulated regarding Lemon’s alleged mistreatment of female employees at CNN.
Lemon’s move to X follows in the footsteps of Tucker Carlson, who also launched an independent show on the platform after parting ways with Fox News. However, some have pointed out potential contradictions in Lemon’s stance on free speech. In 2021, Lemon expressed concerns about misinformation on social media during an on-air discussion with fellow CNN host Chris Cuomo. He called for significant regulation of opinions on social media platforms and advocated for the removal of anonymity in online comments and posts.
Lemon has also criticized Facebook for not censoring enough, stating that the company should face consequences for misinformation and suggesting it should be subject to regulation.
The move to X, a platform that has shown renewed efforts to protect free speech since its acquisition by Musk, is hopefully a shift in Lemon’s perspective on content moderation and social media regulation.
This piece first appeared at TPUSA.
