Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has filed a lawsuit against billionaire Elon Musk and his social media platform X, alleging breach of contract and fraud.
The lawsuit claims that Musk and X reneged on a $1.5 million deal for a talk show on the platform, using Lemon’s name to attract advertisers before abruptly canceling the project.
Lemon alleges that he incurred significant financial losses in preparation for the show.
The partnership between Lemon and X was announced earlier this year as the platform sought to rebuild its advertiser base following a series of controversies.
However, the deal fell apart after the recording of the first episode, which featured a contentious interview with Musk.
Musk later criticized Lemon’s approach, claiming it was essentially “CNN, but on social media.” The lawsuit counters that Musk made false promises to secure Lemon’s participation and used his name to benefit the platform.
The legal battle adds another chapter to the tumultuous history of X under Musk’s ownership, which has been marked by controversies, departures of key executives, and challenges in maintaining advertiser confidence.
Lemon’s lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
