“There have been no restrictions on the interview that he willingly agreed to, and my questions have been respectful and wide-ranging, overlaying every thing from SpaceX to the presidential election,” Lemon continued.
Nonetheless, shortly after wrapping the interview, Musk abruptly canceled Lemon’s partnership to air the present on his X platform. Lemon shared a video claiming the X CEO was “mad” at him following the interview.
The social platform adopted up with a press release acknowledging the axed partnership however welcoming Lemon’s present “to publish its content material on X, with out censorship, as we imagine in offering a platform for creators to scale their work and join with new communities.”
Musk claimed Lemon lacked “authenticity” through the interview and got here off extra like former CNN President Jeff Zucker.
“His method was mainly simply “CNN, however on social media,” which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the truth that CNN is dying,” he tweeted.
Lemon spoke with CNN later that day to share excerpts from the interview the place he requested Musk in regards to the rise in hate speech on X since he took over the social media platform final yr, in addition to the corporate’s accountability to reasonable hateful content material.
“I don’t must reply questions from reporters, Don,” Musk replied. “The one purpose I’m doing this interview is since you’re on the X platform and also you requested for it. In any other case, I’d not do that interview.”
In January, X introduced it will air Lemon’s new information present following his termination from CNN final yr for making sexist feedback. Lemon’s interview with Musk is ready to air on Monday, March 18, on his YouTube channel and podcast.