LEMON’S ‘CHUTZPAH’

Diva’s act isn’t news to Cuomo

Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo “isn’t surprised” by the grandiose wish list his old colleague and ex-pal Don Lemon sent to Elon Musk — before the X boss told him to take a hike last week, The Post has learned.

Cuomo, who moved on to NewsNation after being fired by CNN, couldn’t help but admire the “chutzpah” it took to demand a free Cybertruck and a seat on a SpaceX rocket to broadcast the first-ever extraterrestrial podcast, a source with knowledge told The Post on Thursday. “Don thinks he’s Angelina Jolie,” the source said. “He thinks he’s a star.”

That was in addition to a $5 million up-front payment on top of his $8 million salary, an equity stake in the company and editorial control over the social media site in exchange for doing a show on X, as The Post exclusively reported last week.

“Chris isn’t surprised by Don’s laundry list of demands. He knows who Don is,” the source close to both men told The Post.

“He admires his chutzpah. If you’re dealing with the richest man in the world, you’ve got to ask for the moon and the stars.”

A Cuomo spokesperson told The Post that no one close to the anchor “would say anything like that.” The Post reached out to Lemon for comment.

The brash Lemon has been basking in the media spotlight since being fired last week after taping an interview with Musk on March 8, which was supposed to serve as this week’s debut episode of “The Don Lemon Show.”

The source said Cuomo was “shocked” that Lemon first complained about the firing on CNN, which canned the gaffe-prone morning show host last April.

“After Chris was fired, he was devastated. He was a mess,” the source said. “Don reappearing on CNN to be interviewed by Erin Burnett last week took balls.”

Lemon has since appeared on “The View” and had a walk-on segment on Thursday’s episode of “The Tamron Hall Show.” He posted his second episode of “The Don Lemon Show” on Wednesday.

Lemon all but admitted making the demands in an interview with Mediaite editor-in-chief Aidan McLaughlin.

Media critics are rolling their eyes at Lemon’s press tour to talk about being fired, while trying to get publicity for his show, which he uploads to YouTube and X, and streams on other platforms.

“He loves the attention. He’s not going to give this up,” a media source close to Lemon said.