News/Commentary

Don Lemon gets at least one thing right with big announcement of new show

January 9, 2024 | | Print Article

Demoted, deposed but not defeated, Don Lemon dropped a big announcement about his next project that got at least one thing right.

Much like how his termination from CNN had been overshadowed by Fox News’ separation from then-primetime phenom Tucker Carlson the same Monday morning in April 2023, Lemon announced Tuesday that he was following in the footsteps of the pioneering commentator.

Moments after X Business revealed three new additions to the platform’s content partnerships, the primetime host, turned morning co-host, turned unemployment datapoint, issued his own statement.

“I’ve heard you… and today I am back bigger, bolder, freer! My new media company’s first project is The Don Lemon Show. It will be available to everyone, easily, whenever and wherever you want it, streaming on the platforms where the conversations are happening,” he explained.

“And you’ll find it first on X, the biggest space for free speech in the world,” Lemon correctly highlighted. “I know now more than ever that we need a place for honest debate and discussion without the hall monitors. This is just the beginning so stay tuned.”

Preceding his post, X Business had announced the content partnership with a statement that read, “The award winning TV journalist will share his unique and honest voice in 30 minute episodes, three times a week, covering politics, culture, sports and entertainment. The show will run exclusively first on X. Welcome Don!”

ADVERTISEMENT

This had come after they revealed that former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and former Fox Sports host Jim Rome would also be launching programs on the social media platform, the former with “documentary style videos and broader content” and the latter with videos “five days a week, starting after the Super Bowl.”

Lemon had notably held a different perspective on his termination when it had been revealed after 17 years with CNN. As he told it, “…I would have thought someone in management would have had the decency to tell me directly. At no time was I ever given any indication that I would not be able to continue to do the work I have loved at this network.”

However, a statement from CNN’s communications team contradicted that claim and asserted, “Don Lemon’s statement about this morning’s events is inaccurate. He was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter.”

While his sudden release may or may not have come as a surprise, it had followed contentious weeks at the network as then-CEO Chris Licht had endeavored to right the sinking ship left by his predecessor Jeff Zucker. This included moving Lemon to mornings alongside co-hosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins which resulted in his being assigned “formal training” for making sexist remarks to coworkers before he was permitted to return to work.

ADVERTISEMENT

Shortly after the news broke that Lemon would be releasing content on the social media platform, Today News Africa White House correspondent Simon Ateba identified the key point the commentator nailed in his announcement as others suspected the former CNN host would stretch the boundaries on “free speech.”

“Converted former @CNN host Don Lemon…just announced that he’s launching his new show on @X,” wrote Ateba, “declares that X, not CNN, is the biggest platform for free speech!”

ADVERTISEMENT

Kevin Haggerty
Latest posts by Kevin Haggerty (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles