The highly anticipated interview between former television anchor Don Lemon and billionaire Elon Musk was released online on Monday morning, and it was raw and occasionally tense. The wide-ranging conversation touched upon various topics, including politics, Mr. Musk’s reported drug use, hate speech on X (formerly known as Twitter), and more.
The interview was meant to be the debut episode of a new talk show in partnership between Mr. Lemon and X. However, Mr. Musk called off the deal just a day after filming the hour-plus interview at Tesla’s headquarters in Austin, Texas. The first episode of “The Don Lemon Show” was streamed on YouTube and posted on Mr. Lemon’s X account.
During the interview, Mr. Musk revealed details about his recent meeting with former President Donald J. Trump, his stance on endorsing political candidates, and his use of prescription ketamine for a “negative chemical state.” He also addressed questions about hate speech on the X platform and his reluctance to moderate certain content.
The release of the show came after a promotional push from Mr. Lemon, who had teased the interview on various platforms. Before its release, there was already tension between the two men regarding how the interview went. Mr. Lemon stated that his questions were respectful and covered a range of subjects, while Mr. Musk criticized the lack of originality in the show.
Overall, the interview provided insight into Mr. Musk’s views on various issues and shed light on the complexities of his relationship with the media. The cancellation of the partnership between Mr. Musk and Mr. Lemon added another layer of drama to the already intense conversation.
