San Francisco, Calif. — A judge has granted Don Lemon the green light to pursue his breach of contract lawsuit against Elon Musk. In a recent ruling, Superior Court Judge Harold Kahn determined that Lemon’s case holds sufficient evidence for further proceedings, allowing the former CNN anchor to seek accountability from Musk and his platform, X.
Lemon’s attorney, Carney Shegerian, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing the importance of holding Musk accountable under the law. Shegerian pointed out that Musk’s own communications could serve as evidence, indicating his motives and responsibilities regarding the case.
The lawsuit stems from a dispute related to a show Lemon launched on X in 2024. Following an intense interview that was part of the show’s inaugural episode, Lemon claims that Musk abruptly ended their arrangement. According to the lawsuit, Musk communicated through a text to Lemon’s agent stating, “contract is canceled.”
Lemon argues that he was informed by Brett Weitz, a former executive at X, that the platform would not honor financial commitments made to him, citing the absence of a signed agreement. However, during earlier conversations, Musk had assured Lemon that formal paperwork would not be necessary, fostering a sense of trust in their verbal agreements.
The initial proposal for the show included a one-year contract that obligated Lemon to grant exclusive rights to specific video content for a window of 24 hours before it could be shared elsewhere. As part of the deal, X had reportedly promised Lemon a payment of $1.5 million alongside additional incentives, further solidifying his commitment to the platform.
Lemon claims he felt pressured to accept the deal promptly, as he was informed that failure to attend the CES conference in January would lead to the cancellation of his offer. Citing the strong reputation of X’s CEO Linda Yaccarino, Lemon proceeded with the arrangement.
In the recent court ruling, several of Lemon’s claims—such as negligent misrepresentation, defamation, retaliation, negligence, and harassment—were dismissed. Nevertheless, the court allowed Lemon to pursue allegations of fraud, misappropriation of his name and likeness, and breach of implied contract.
Musk had previously sought to transfer the case to a Texas federal court, believing it would be more favorable. However, that request was denied by the San Francisco court, allowing Lemon’s lawsuit to proceed in its current venue.
This developing story highlights the intersection of media, celebrity, and contractual obligations in the ever-evolving landscape of social media.
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