Elon Musk sued for millions by Don Lemon after canceling series

Don Lemon has taken legal action against Elon Musk and X, following the abrupt termination of a much-anticipated partnership. Lemon, the former CNN anchor, claims that Musk and X made false promises to lure him into a deal for a talk show that never materialized, per CNN. Filed in a San Francisco court, the lawsuit accuses Musk and X of inducing Lemon to invest significant sums into the project, only to cancel the deal once it had served their purpose.

According to Lemon’s legal team, Musk’s frustration during an interview for the inaugural episode of “The Don Lemon Show” led to the cancellation of the partnership. The lawsuit argues that Musk initially courted Lemon to use his high profile to boost X's flagging reputation. After Musk’s acquisition of the social media platform, X faced a major exodus of advertisers due to controversial content linked to the billionaire’s leadership. Lemon’s suit alleges that the platform used his name to attract advertisers but then backed out of their commitments.

Attorney Carney Shegerian, representing Lemon, described the case as one of “fraud, negligence, and reputational damage.” Shegerian asserted that X executives manipulated Lemon to enhance their advertising appeal, only to pull out of the agreement once their objectives were met. The lawsuit claims that Lemon faced pressure to promote X at public events and make social media announcements, even though he had reservations about the partnership.

Money Figures

Lemon’s complaint details an agreement where X promised him at least $1.5 million for a year, plus a 60% share of advertising revenue, performance bonuses based on follower count, revenue from referrals, and $500,000 in advertising credits. Despite these promises, Musk reportedly informed Lemon’s agent that X would not honor the terms due to the lack of a formal contract, contradicting earlier assurances from Elon Musk.

As Lemon seeks compensation for the unfulfilled agreement, this legal battle underscores the contentious nature of high-profile partnerships in the digital age. With Lemon’s lawsuit spotlighting the chaotic dynamics at X under Musk’s leadership, the outcome could have significant implications for both parties involved.