Life Politics
Elon Musk, the CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter), had some harsh criticism for advertisers pulling their money from the social media platform.
While he admits an ongoing advertiser boycott could ultimately “kill the company,” it’s clear the billionaire tech mogul isn’t willing to pull any punches in placating those seeking to crush free speech.
“What this advertising boycott is going to do is, it is going to kill the company,” Musk said on Wednesday during an interview at the New York Times Dealbook Summit. “And the whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company.”
The boycott has been the result of a two-pronged issue for Musk – one, a controversial post in which he endorsed what critics described as an anti-Semitic post, and two, a smear campaign by Media Matters which used manipulated data to portray X as associating with “white nationalists.”
The latter led to Musk launching what he deemed a “thermonuclear lawsuit” and prompted multiple states to launch their own investigations into the left-wing group.
RELATED: Texas AG Joins Elon Musk’s Legal Battle Against Media Matters
Musk to Advertisers – Go F*** Yourself, Am I Clear?
Musk was highly critical of the advertiser boycott during Wednesday’s interview, saving a particularly high level of vitriol for Disney CEO Bob Iger.
Iger, who spoke at the same forum earlier in the day, explained why the company that has been at the front of the woke/weak culture wars decided to flee X.
“We know that Elon is larger than life in many respects, and that his name is very much connected to the companies he founded or owns,” he explained. “By him taking the position he took in a public manner, we felt that the association was not necessarily a positive one for us.”
Disney has seen revenue floundering for multiple consecutive quarters. They continue to battle a public perception of being associated with those seeking to “sexualize children.”
Perhaps Iger should worry about that.
Musk publicly called out Iger in a well-warranted vicious verbal beatdown.
“Don’t advertise. If someone is going to try and blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go f*** yourself,” Musk fumed.
The stunned reaction from host and New York Times columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin, along with the muted response from the crown in attendance, is a thing of beauty. Just a work of art on how you deal with financial terrorists.
“Go f*** yourself, is that clear? Hey Bob, if you’re in the audience. That’s how I feel, don’t advertise,” he concluded.
Musk Expresses Regret For Post That Helped Kickstart the Boycott
While it’s clear that Musk is positioning himself as an unapologetic free speech warrior – perhaps the only one who has control of a major social media platform – it doesn’t make him infallible.
As for the matter pertaining to his controversial post, Musk expressed regret for having engaged in the narrative.
“I handed a loaded gun to those who hate me,” he said.
The X CEO stated that it was “one of the most foolish” things he has posted. He then referred to Sorkin as “Jonathan” in an effort to show that everybody makes mistakes from time to time.
“What I am trying to illustrate is that, sometimes I say the wrong thing,” Musk said.
Musk isn’t wrong, however, when he tells the advertisers to go pound sand.
Advertisers have used the almighty dollar to stifle speech and censor those they disagree with, or as a pathetic means to placate marginal groups and lure them in to purchase their woke products.
Look at all the money they pour into Pride Month advertising. If you were a store that so much as hinted you opposed such advertising based on religious beliefs, they’d yank their money away immediately.
It’s blatant discrimination.
Would these companies appreciate it if Musk in turn organized a boycott of their products? Give them the ol’ Bud Light treatment? Where does it end?
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