SAN FRANCISCO (NEWSnet/AP) — Elon Musk abruptly canceled “The Don Lemon Show" through social media network X, after the former CNN anchor recorded an interview with the billionaire for its first episode, which has not aired.

In a post on X, the company said it "decided not to enter into a commercial partnership with the show.”

It added that Lemon's 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.”

Musk owns X and frequently proclaims himself a “free speech absolutist.”

In a video posted to X on Wednesday, Lemon declared that Musk “is mad at me” and said he will air his interview on YouTube and via podcast on March 18.

Lemon didn’t go into specifics about the source of Musk’s alleged unhappiness, but wrote, “Throughout our conversation, I kept reiterating to him that although it was tense at times, I thought it was good for people to see and hear our exchange and that they would learn from our conversation … But apparently free speech absolutism doesn’t apply when it comes to questions about him from people like me."

In January, X announced a “content partnership” with Lemon, saying it would post 30-minute episodes three times each week on subjects including politics, culture, sports and entertainment.

Lemon was fired by CNN in 2023 after a 17-year run with the network.

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