Don Lemon is Everything That is Wrong with the Mainstream Media

By Adam Weiss

Don Lemon has once again shown the world how off-the-block, rude and self-serving some leading mainstream media (MSM) figures have become.

Earlier this week, an interview aired between Don Lemon (who was graciously given the X platform for his new "The Don Lemon Show" following his unceremonious firing from CNN for decades-long misogyny) and his new boss of sorts, Elon Musk.

But the "interview" was hardly that. It was little more than uncomfortable race-baiting for race-baiting sake—an opportunity for the disgraced Lemon to try to impress his far-left extremist buddies who can't stand the likes of Elon, content chiefdoms who are open-minded to views and voices outside the MSM bubble. Lemon's questioning quickly devolved into uncomfortable race-baiting, focusing heavily on Musk's stance on hate speech moderation on his social media platform, X.

Musk, known for advocating free speech, understandably took offense to Lemon's line of questioning, viewing it as a form of censorship. The exchange turned tense, leading Musk to withdraw from a planned show with Lemon and X, citing the interview as the reason.

However, I smell a set-up right from the get-go. Lemon likely saw the Musk sit-down as a chance to win brownie points and get himself back into the MSM club, arrogantly believing that if he stuck it to Musk, a loathed figure by the left, then CNN, MSNBC and the rest of the echo chamber would suddenly come crawling back, begging him to sign a deal with their network.

Well, that hasn't happened. Instead, Lemon has had to resort to YouTube. Despite the easy access, his views pale at tens of thousands. In any case, Lemon's interview style was contentious and unproductive. Instead of fostering meaningful dialogue, Lemon's approach alienated his guest and hindered the potential for a constructive conversation – a glaring trait of the MSM. Yet he is even too much for that club now, too. Lemon now finds himself with a base, alienated on the left and the right and everywhere in between. At this point, nobody takes his "journalism" seriously. Lemon’s disconnect from reality was made even more apparent recently when his rider was leaked to the public.

Lemon's demands before joining the X platform, including an outrageous request to be launched into space for a podcast, only highlight his sense of entitlement and detachment from reality. (Yes, according to the New York Post, Lemon wanted SpaceX founder Musk to launch him into orbit for the first-ever extraterrestrial podcast!)

"First podcast in space to be hosted by Don (via SpaceX)," the bulleted line item reads.

The ridiculous request was detailed in a document sent by Lemon's representatives at United Talent Agency to Musk's social media platform. There were demands for a $5 million upfront payment, an $8 million base salary, an equity stake in the company, and authority to veto the platform's news content policies and creator roster. You can't make this stuff up. It exemplifies precisely why Americans no longer relate to these MSM types, where self-importance and sensationalism often overshadow genuine journalistic integrity.

It's clear that Lemon's actions—both public and private—have eroded public trust in leading mainstream media figures and the outlets that paid their bills. His tenure at CNN, despite numerous controversies, reflects poorly on the network's credibility and raises questions about its editorial standards.

For years, Don Lemon faced criticism on multiple fronts, including on-air controversies, allegations of workplace behavior, and perceived political biases. His remarks were thoughtless, including a claim that the US women's soccer team was less interesting than the men's team, which riled up CNN's key audience. Reports also surfaced alleging difficult behavior in the workplace, including accusations of misogyny and clashes with coworkers.

All of this is precisely why most of America can no longer trust nor relate to the leftist-skewed press corps. The fact that CNN kept him on air for almost a decade despite his behavior also shows why their ratings are terrible.

In an era where media literacy is paramount, individuals like Lemon serve as a reminder of the importance of holding journalists and media personalities accountable. The American viewership deserves better than sensationalism and ego-driven narratives masquerading as news.

Regardless of what side of the political aisle you fall on, we can all agree at this point that Don Lemon is an insufferable fool. And after that embarrassing Elon interview, let's hope the broader American viewership sees him for what he is: a partisan political hack with zero intention of doing right by his supposed profession.

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Adam Weiss is the CEO of AMW PR, a New York based political strategy and communications firm. His firm has worked with Jim Brown, Judge Jeanine Pirro, Congressman Lee Zeldin, Eboni Williams, Corey Lewandowski, David Bossie, Andrew Giuliani, Governor Haley Barbour, Steve Hilton. Anthony Scaramucci, and more.