Internet users have shared mixed reactions to Don Lemon's new interview with Elon Musk, with some branding one particular question 'inappropriate'.
Lemon used his interview with Musk to launch his new series, The Don Lemon Show, today (March 18) after he left CNN last year.
Check out a clip here, and the full interview below:
The pair sat down to chat for more than an hour, with Lemon saying beforehand that there were 'no restrictions, no ground rules, nothing off limits or out of bounds'.
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The pair completed the interview, but afterwards Musk canceled a proposed partnership between Lemon and X.
With the interview now live on Lemon's YouTube channel as well as on other streaming platforms, viewers have shared their thoughts on the conversation, with many drawing attention to one question in particular.
During the interview, Lemon asked Musk whether he considered 'posting controversial stuff' as 'blowing off steam'.
Musk responded to say that was the case to 'some degree', though noted he also uses X to 'post jokes, sometimes trivia, sometimes things that are of great importance'.
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Lemon then went on to ask whether Musk was 'under the influence of anything' when he shared his content, which Musk denied.
Lemon then asked: "But you've admitted that you have a ketamine prescription."
Musk acknowledged that he did, but when Lemon asked what the prescription was for, he hit back: "Well it's pretty private to ask somebody about a medical prescription."
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Musk then added that the drug was helpful for getting him 'out of a negative frame of mind'.
Some viewers shared their excitement to see Lemon conducting interviews again, but after watching his line of questioning, others described the question about Musk's prescription as 'inappropriate'.
"It is very impolite to ask the interviewee such a personal question," one person posted on X.
Another agreed as they responded: "That was unfair and out of order. The moment Elon said private prescription he should have backed off.
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"If he was genuinely curious he should have asked privately off camera if at all!
I didn't like that."
On March 13, before the interview was released to the world, Lemon shared a statement about the canceled partnership with X, saying he was informed of the decision 'hours after' the interview.
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Lemon went on to claim Musk and his team had previously 'pursued the deal in numerous conversations', and that there were 'no restrictions' put in place on the interview.
He argued his questions were 'respectful and wide ranging', and that while Lemon thought they had a 'good conversation', Musk apparently 'felt differently'.
"While Elon goes back on his word, I will be doubling down on my commitment to free speech and I cannot wait to get started," Lemon concluded.
In its own statement, X wrote: "X is a platform that champions free speech, and we’re proud to provide an open environment for diverse voices and perspectives. "The Don Lemon Show is welcome to publish its content on X, without censorship, as we believe in providing a platform for creators to scale their work and connect with new communities.
"However, like any enterprise, we reserve the right to make decisions about our business partnerships, and after careful consideration, X decided not to enter into a commercial partnership with the show."
Expanding on the decision to cancel the partnership, Musk wrote on X that Lemon's approach to interviewing was 'basically just “CNN, but on social media”'.
Musk claimed this 'doesn’t work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying'.
"And, instead of it being the real Don Lemon, it was really just Jeff Zucker talking through Don, so lacked authenticity," he continued.
"All this said, Lemon/Zucker are of course welcome to build their viewership on this platform along with everyone else."
UNILAD has attempted to contact Musk, X and Lemon for comment.
Emily Brown