Former CNN anchor Don Lemon has taken legal action against billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk and X (formerly known as Twitter) over a canceled talk show deal.

The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco County Superior Court, accuses Musk and X of fraud, breach of contract, and misappropriation of Lemon’s name and likeness.

In May 2023, shortly after Lemon’s termination from CNN, Musk reached out to him on X. Musk was keen to attract advertisers back to the platform, which had faced controversies following his takeover in 2022. Musk enticed Lemon with promises of full authority over his content and financial incentives, proposing an exclusive show deal worth $1.5 million annually.

The first episode of Lemon’s show featured an interview with Musk. However, after recording the episode, X abruptly canceled the deal. Musk criticized Lemon’s approach, stating it was “basically just ‘CNN, but on social media,’ which doesn’t work, as evidenced by the fact that CNN is dying”.

Lemon’s lawsuit alleges that Musk and X used false promises and representations to persuade him into the partnership, only to pull out without payment. The complaint includes claims of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, and misappropriation of Lemon’s name and likeness.

Lemon had already invested thousands of dollars in creating the show before the deal collapsed. He seeks compensation for the canceled partnership and the damage caused.

Neither Musk nor X has immediately responded to the lawsuit. As the legal battle unfolds, Lemon’s case sheds light on the challenges faced by public figures navigating media platforms and contractual agreements.