Elon Musk CANCELS Don Lemon's X show claiming it 'lacks authenticity' after sitting down for interview where fired CNN host asked him about 'using ketamine'

Former CNN host Don Lemon has had his new show unexpectedly axed by Elon Musk just hours after the billionaire sat down for an interview. 

Lemon slammed the decision as an attack on his free speech, which Musk countered by insisting Lemon is still free to share his show on the platform without censorship, but 'we reserve the right to make decisions about our business partnerships.'

'We had a good conversation. Clearly he felt differently,' Lemon said in a scathing statement, in which he said that he had entered an agreement to stream all of his shows on Musk's platform before the rug was pulled. 

'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.' 

Lemon declined to say what exactly angered Musk, although journalist Kara Swisher claimed that the billionaire took offense to 'questions about his ketamine use.'  

Don Lemon revealed Wednesday that his new X show has been canned by Elon Musk after the billionaire became 'so upset' by their unreleased interview 

Musk and Lemon sat down for their interview on Friday, and the former CNN anchor said he found out his show was axed just hours later 

The journalist's new series, 'The Don Lemon Show', had entered into an agreement with X to promote the show, which would have seen him share in revenue from ads. 

After Lemon claimed that Musk was undercutting his free speech, the platform's business account clarified that he can still share his program, but 'after careful consideration, X decided not to enter into a commercial partnership with the show.' 

Lemon said that despite the show being cancelled, he will still air the interview with Musk, which covered a wide range of topics 'from SpaceX to the presidential election.' 

'This will be just the first of many episodes of The Don Lemon Show,' he added. The interview is set to air on YouTube on March 18. 

'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.' 

In response, Musk said that he decided to axe his partnership with the show after finding Lemon's approach was 'basically just CNN, but on social media.' 

'And, instead of it being the real Don Lemon, it was really just Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so lacked authenticity,' he said. 

A source added to the New York Post that Musk was 'underwhelmed' at the end of the show, and canned it after 'realizing how bad it was.'  

'Don was underwhelming, unprepared and dull,' the insider continued. Although Swisher claimed they clashed over questions about Musk's alleged drug use, the source claimed Lemon failed to ask any interesting or edgy questions. 

'He didn’t ask Musk about (ex-girlfriend) Amber Heard. Elon probably would have liked it,' they added. 

'He was unpolished. He didn’t have producers in his ear. Jeff Zucker used to be in his ear and he would repeat back everything he was told,' they said, noting that Lemon had only a barebones crew that included his fiancé. 

Another former CNN anchor, Brian Stelter, also waded into the argument on X, claiming a source told him the interview was 'like a bad first date.'  

The former CNN anchor was ousted from the network in April 2023 following 17 years with the company, after he sparked backlash with several controversial remarks, including branding Nikki Haley 'past her prime.' 

He also faced allegations from female co-workers who claimed that he had a history of misogynistic behavior, which he denied. 

The X show was intended to be a comeback for Lemon, and he was slated to tape three 30-minute episodes per week. He was recruited for a slate of shows, with deals also recently handed to Tulsi Gabbard and sports host Jim Rome. 

It was reported in January that Lemon entered an exclusive publishing deal with X, which has now seemingly halted monetization he would have received. He countered that he will now be sharing his content on YouTube.  

After releasing his statement, Lemon took to X to release a video of himself walking through New York, where he claimed Musk was 'so upset' about their interview. 

'This does not change anything about the show, except for my relationship with Elon and X,' he said. 

'I know that many of you were not happy that I was doing this in the first place, and you told me so. 

'I just want you to know that I did this deal because not only do I believe in free speech, but I believed that this was my best possible chance for the work that I'm doing to reach the largest amount of people.' 

Musk was allegedly angered by Lemon asking about his suspected ketamine usage 

Lemon spent 17 years at CNN until he was ousted from the network in April 2023 

Lemon said that he sat down with Musk to try and share insights into the billionaire and learn more about him, including why he bought Twitter and pledged to make it a 'town square' for the First Amendment.

'But apparently, free speech absolutism doesn't apply when it comes to questions about him from people like me,' Lemon said. 

The journalist refused to say exactly what it was about their interview that angered the billionaire, and told viewers they'd have to tune in next week to find out.

However, Swisher tweeted after news of Lemon's show being cancelled that she had warned him that it would happen, as she branded Musk 'the adult toddler.' 

She claimed that Musk's angry response came after he was asked 'questions about his ketamine use', an issue raised in a New Yorker article last year that claimed his use of the drug has 'escalated.' 

Citing those close to him, the article alleged that 'the drug, alongside his isolation and his increasingly embattled relationship with the press, might contribute to his tendency to make chaotic and impulsive statements and decisions.'