Don Lemon’s Twitter, now known as X, account bid farewell this week as he announced his departure in a video posted Wednesday.
As reported by The Gateway Pundit, the former CNN host, who has long clashed with X’s owner Elon Musk, expressed frustration over what he perceives as the platform’s diminishing dedication to “free speech” and “transparency.”
Opening his video, Lemon expressed disillusionment with the platform he once praised for open discussion and debate. “I once believed it was a place for honest debate and discussion, transparency, and free speech. But I now feel it does not serve that purpose,” he shared.
Here’s why I’m leaving Twitter… pic.twitter.com/VIope68L2k
— Don Lemon (@donlemon) November 13, 2024
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This critique is curious, considering Musk’s efforts to build X as a free-speech haven, unencumbered by previous restrictions that often silenced voices on the right.
Lemon also took issue with X’s new terms of service, which state that as of November 15, all disputes involving the platform must be resolved in Texas courts. The former host voiced disdain, citing a recent report from The Washington Post that criticized this decision as an attempt to shield the company from litigation in conservative-friendly courts.
The policy shift moves disputes out of liberal San Francisco, where X was formerly headquartered, and into Texas, a location favorable for Musk and potentially less sympathetic to X’s critics.
“Hi, everyone! I have loved connecting with all of you on Twitter and then on X for all these years. But it is time for me to leave the platform.”
Don Lemon attempting to have everyone care about him leaving X pic.twitter.com/bqdDuZ1M4Z
— AB (@AB84) November 14, 2024
— The🐰FOO (@PolitiBunny) November 13, 2024
This is not an airport. No need to announce your departure. Just leave.
— 🥷🦅Austin Petersen 🇺🇲🥋 (@AP4Liberty) November 13, 2024
Bye Don 👋
You will not be missed. pic.twitter.com/i8TmnzFf5z
— MJTruthUltra (@MJTruthUltra) November 13, 2024
🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/fIko4n6M5H
— Politi_Rican 🇵🇷 𝕏 🇺🇸 (@TheRicanMemes) November 14, 2024
This departure isn’t exactly shocking. Lemon’s rocky relationship with X intensified after he threatened to take legal action over the abrupt cancellation of his show on X just days before its planned debut. The cancellation followed a contentious interview where Lemon grilled Musk, with tensions reportedly spilling over afterward.
For Lemon, the move from X marks a retreat to less-trafficked platforms where he can share his views with his small circle of loyal followers. While some may view Lemon’s exit as a loss, his criticisms of Musk’s platform come across as more of a whimper than a roar.
Musk, undeterred, will continue his mission to transform X into a platform that values open discourse—whether or not Don Lemon approves.
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