Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk retorted sharply at Don Lemon following reports of the ex-CNN anchor’s over-the-top demands to host a show on X, formerly Twitter.
Incident Overview: Musk took to X to address Lemon after a media expose detailed the laundry list of demands made by the former CNN anchor.
Lemon Media Network did not respond immediately to Benzinga’s request for comment.
In a scathing response, Musk branded Lemon as a “tool,” drawing a comparison to the avaricious Veruca Salt from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”
Salt, known for her insatiable greed, serves as an apt metaphor for Lemon’s reported demands.
Lemon allegedly sought a complimentary Tesla Cybertruck, a $5 million upfront payment on top of an $8 million salary, ownership in X, and veto power over alterations in X’s news policy.
Additional requests included a private jet trip to Las Vegas, accommodations for himself and his partner, as well as company-funded coverage of their indulgences in day drinking and spa treatments.
Despite Musk’s acquiescence to interview Lemon for X’s inaugural episode, the anchor was swiftly let go, with Musk deeming him “uninspiring” and “unimpressive.”
Reportedly, Lemon’s representatives at United Talent Agency furnished the stipulations to X’s leadership in December. The collaboration was publicized in January, although an X spokesperson clarified that no formal agreement existed with Lemon or ‘The Don Lemon Show’ before the interview.
Having been ousted by CNN last year amidst a spate of controversies, Lemon asserted that his dismissal from X stemmed from Musk’s alleged failure to uphold a commitment to “free speech.”
Significance: Lemon divulged the termination of his affiliation with Musk’s social media platform in a video, declaring that Musk canceled the show due to displeasure over the interview.
On Thursday, Musk announced that Lemon would not receive minimum assured payments for monetizing on X.
In spite of this, Lemon proclaimed his intent to release the interview on YouTube and X, notwithstanding the fallout with Musk.
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Disclaimer: This content was partly created with input from Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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