Tech billionaire and X founder Elon Musk sent a strong message to companies that are boycotting advertising on his social media platform after a recent post generated controversy.
Musk was accused of promoting anti-Semitism with a tweet he posted several days ago but later clarified his statement, insisting that he was not anti-Semitic. The backlash led to a number of high-profile companies, including Disney, Comcast, and Warner Bros, pulling their advertisements from X.
During an interview at The New York Times Dealbook Summit 2023, Musk was asked about the boycott and expressed his strong opinion on the matter. “I hope they stop,” Musk said about the companies boycotting. “Don’t advertise.”
When the host asked him if he really didn’t want these companies to advertise, Musk replied, “If somebody’s gonna try to blackmail me with money, go f*** yourself. Go. F***. Yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.” He then addressed one of the companies in the audience, saying, “Hey, Bob, I’m sure you’re in the audience.”
Musk was also questioned about X’s reliance on advertising and what he plans to do if these companies continue to boycott. In response, Musk said, “G.F.Y,” implying that he does not care about their concerns.
.@elonmusk to corporations pulling ads from X:
“Don’t advertise. If someone is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go fuck yourself. Go fuck yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.” pic.twitter.com/GuhIHWjei9
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 29, 2023
He went on to explain that this boycott could ultimately lead to the downfall of X and that the world will know who is to blame. “What this advertising boycott is going to do is it’s going to kill the company,” Musk said. “And the whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company, and we will document it in great detail.” He also challenged the advertisers to try and justify their actions to the rest of the world. “Tell it to Earth,” he said.
The host then suggested that the advertisers would likely point the finger at Musk, to which he responded, “Oh, yeah? Let’s see how Earth responds to that.” The interview concluded with Musk assuring that he is not worried about the boycott and that X will continue to thrive with or without these advertisers.
The controversy surrounding X’s advertising boycott has sparked a larger conversation about freedom of speech and accountability for social media platforms. Musk’s unapologetic stance on the matter has only added fuel to the fire, leading many to question where the line should be drawn between freedom of expression and responsible content moderation.
It remains to be seen whether the boycotting companies will reconsider their actions or if they will continue to stand by their decision, potentially causing major consequences for X and its founder.
