'Don Veruca': Internet agrees as Elon Musk compares Don Lemon to spoiled child from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Elon Musk and Don Lemon's ongoing feud has escalated after the tech billionaire compared the former CNN host to a spoiled child.

On Friday, March 15, Musk took to X (formerly Twitter) to tweet, "Don 'Veruca Salt'" as he likened Lemon to the spoiled child character Veruca Salt from Roald Dahl's 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.'

Inside Don Lemon's talk show fallout

The remark follows recent revelations of Lemon's alleged extravagant demands made as part of a proposed deal to host a talk show on Musk's platform.

The alleged demands included a $5 million upfront payment, an $8 million salary, and an equity stake in X.

According to the New York Post, the talk show host reportedly requested a private jet to Las Vegas with accommodations for himself and his fiance, a free Tesla Cybertruck, and that Musk's company cover the expenses of their day drinking and massages.

In January, Lemon took to X to announce his new talk show that he had partnered with Musk to facilitate "honest debate and discussion without the hall monitors."

However, the project collapsed following a contentious interview between him and the tech mogul which took place despite Lemon's outlandish requests.

While the former CNN anchor who was fired from the network almost a year ago promised to release the full interview on March 18, tense exchanges between the two have already surfaced from leaked snippets.

One notable moment from the interview showed Lemon asking the 'Space X' founder about the alleged increase in hate speech on X, eliciting visible annoyance from Musk.

“I don’t have to answer questions from a reporter, Don. The only reason I’m doing this interview is because you’re on the X platform," the tech mogul told Lemon.

Don Lemon denies reported demands, calls it 'baseless'

Lemon stated that discussions with Musk's social media platform began following his exit from CNN in April 2022, claiming that issues emerged over alleged threats of termination if he did not attend the Consumer Electronic Show held in Las Vegas.

However, X representatives denied the talk show host's claims as "a disingenuous lie." Addressing the claims of Lemon's demands, his spokesperson maintained that they were baseless, explaining that "there is nothing...that is true. Literally, nothing.

Internet says Elon Musk's comparison of Don Lemon to Veruca Salt is 'accurate'

After Musk compared Lemon to the spoiled character 'Veruca Salt' amid the talk show fallout, netizens agreed with the Tesla CEO's remarks.

"Don Veruca Lemon Haaa," a user remarked on X while another user wrote, "Accurate."

"Put him in the chocolate machine already. Honestly, I think this was the final nail in the coffin for his so-called career," a user opined and another user tweeted, "I sincerely like Veruca Salt better."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.