Don Lemon is taking Elon Musk to court over what sounds like a classic case of “You Promised Me What?!”
The 58-year-old former CNN star, who’s probably wondering why his career isn’t on a beach sipping cocktails, is now suing the 53-year-old wealthiest person on the planet because he feels he’s been short-changed for his short-lived talk show on X (formerly known as Twitter). Apparently, the show had more drama than a soap opera, and it ended after just one fiery chat with Elon.
According to a lawsuit filed in California’s Superior Court on August 1, Don was supposed to get a cool $1.5 million for a year’s worth of pontificating on X. Page Six reports that Don was promised $200,000 upfront and a chance to renew his deal twice more while pocketing 60% of ad revenue. Plus, he was supposed to get $500,000 in advertising credits and bonuses based on how many followers he could charm.
Things took a nosedive when Elon, during a particularly heated interview about advertisers jumping ship over censorship issues, turned into a human volcano. He warned Don to “Choose your question carefully, there’s five minutes left,” before deciding the show was more of a “no-go” and pulling the plug.
Don is now alleging that Elon stiffed him on the payments, all while allegedly using Don’s name to sweet-talk advertisers into joining his platform. The lawsuit claims that Elon offered “false and inconsistent reasons” for not paying up, which, according to Don’s side, contradicts what Elon allegedly told Don’s agent.
The kicker? Don never signed any paperwork because Elon insisted there was “no need,” which, in hindsight, might have been a huge red flag.
Don’s lawyer, Carney Shegerian, told the New York Times, “X executives used Don as a human billboard for their advertising pitch, then canceled their partnership and dragged his reputation through the mud.” He’s seeking damages for breach of contract, misappropriation of name and likeness, unjust enrichment, and probably a side of fries for good measure.
As of now, Elon’s legal team hasn’t weighed in on this drama. Maybe they’re still busy figuring out how to dodge another lawsuit.
Elon Musk canceled #TheDonLemonShow👀
Watch on YouTube and listen everywhere on Monday March 18. pic.twitter.com/AAhnvcY0ny
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) March 13, 2024
