Elon Musk and X have filed to dismiss Don Lemon’s lawsuit, which claims they defrauded him by cancelling a multimillion-dollar partnership after a contentious interview. In a filing to a San Francisco federal court, Musk argued that Lemon’s reliance on an informal promise of control over his work, without a formal contract, was unreasonable.
Key Details of the Case:
- Partnership Breakdown: Musk contended that Lemon “soured” the relationship by conducting an “invasive and inappropriate interview” that touched on controversial topics like content moderation, hate speech, and Musk’s drug use.
- Lemon’s Claims: Lemon alleges that Musk promised him “full authority and control” over his work on X (formerly Twitter), without needing a written contract, only to cancel the deal after the interview. Lemon is seeking a minimum of $1.5 million-plus ad revenue shares.
- X’s Defense: X also filed for dismissal, arguing that a business fallout doesn’t guarantee Lemon a legal victory, and criticized his interview style as “charged” and invasive.
- Venue Dispute: Musk’s legal team said the case shouldn’t be tried in California, as Musk resides in Texas and Lemon in New York. They suggested moving the case to Texas if not dismissed.
Background:
Lemon’s lawsuit follows his firing from CNN in April 2023, after making comments perceived as sexist regarding Nikki Haley. Meanwhile, Musk continues to face challenges at X, which has struggled with ad sales following his 2022 takeover.
Lemon’s lawyer called the filing a case of Musk’s ego, emphasizing that Lemon was terminated for asking questions Musk didn’t like. The case could now move to a lengthy court battle.
