So, Don Lemon has officially thrown in the towel on X (formerly Twitter), taking a dramatic exit and claiming it’s no longer a haven for “honest debate” now that President-elect Donald Trump has secured a win, with none other than Elon Musk cheering him on.
It’s not every day you see a media figure like Lemon, who has built his brand on voicing “truth to power,” stepping away from the very platform where he’s often been at the center of every conversation. But here we are, watching the ex-CNN anchor and longtime “debate” advocate decide that it’s time to cut ties.
Lemon made the announcement after he was mocked over this video:
Don Lemon just got owned pic.twitter.com/DcF2fsNEvG
— Karli Bonne’ 🇺🇸 (@KarluskaP) November 13, 2024
But he didn’t stop there, he kept posting:
Don Lemon is on his third post since “leaving” 𝕏 pic.twitter.com/66w58tE2qC
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) November 13, 2024
Lemon’s farewell message on X was a classic: heartfelt words about years of “connecting” with followers and a vague gripe about the platform no longer supporting transparency, free speech, or honest debate. Ironically, he doesn’t explain what specifically drove him off the edge—just a few sweeping complaints and a quick retreat. Maybe it’s because he’s not exactly leaving all of social media (he’s still active on TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube). So, his grievances may be more about who’s running X than about social media itself.
Now, Lemon has also pointed to some legal changes in X’s terms of service, set to go into effect on November 15, which state that any disputes with the platform have to be resolved in Texas courts. According to Lemon, this puts X under a “conservative hub,” making it easier for Musk’s company to shield itself from litigation. It’s almost as if X decided that if people want to play activist and stir up trouble, they’ll have to do it under Texas jurisdiction. Lemon clearly thinks this is a power play—and a way to dissuade vocal critics like him from raising too much of a fuss.
Interestingly, Lemon’s not alone. Hollywood icon Jamie Lee Curtis, a frequent activist voice, also decided it was time to leave X, sharing her dramatic farewell on Instagram. And it didn’t stop there. U.K. news outlet The Guardian announced they’d stop posting on the platform, citing concerns over “disturbing content” and “far-right conspiracy theories” that they claim Musk is allowing to spread. Without specifics, they left followers to fill in the blanks. Another outspoken leftist actress, Bette Midler, also deleted her account post-election.
As the left’s lineup of stars begins jumping ship, Piers Morgan, never one to miss a chance for a well-placed jab, chimed in with his own “announcement”: he’s staying on X. Morgan’s post went viral, likely for its blunt message mocking the dramatics of the celebrity exits. After all, while some see X as a sinking ship, others, like Morgan, see it as just another place where opinions collide—and maybe, for once, all points of view can exist without being chased out by a cancel culture mentality.
Don Lemon attempting to have everyone care about him leaving X pic.twitter.com/bqdDuZ1M4Z
— AB (@AB84) November 14, 2024
In the end, Lemon, Curtis, and the other celebrity exodus members seem to be making a grand gesture, but to what end? Sure, they’re “leaving” X in a huff, but it’s hard to see it as anything more than a symbolic protest against Musk’s control and Trump’s return. It’s a social media exit parade to remember, but it raises the question—if honest debate really is dead, who killed it?
People are having a field day with this:
NOT SICK OF WINNING https://t.co/AyQzY1aAI0 pic.twitter.com/OPslyDO4au
— Michael Malice (@michaelmalice) November 13, 2024
This is like saying “I’m leaving” but shuffling your feet slowly exiting the party hoping people ask for you to stay. Don’t let freedom of speech hit you on the way out, @donlemon. pic.twitter.com/vppxWxPXOh
— Joe Rogan Podcast (@joeroganhq) November 14, 2024
