Warner Bros, Paramount, Sony Pictures pause ads on X after Elon Musk’s 'anti-Semitic' post
Musk's tweet seemingly agreeing with a post that painted the Jewish community in a bad light has received widespread flak
Among the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and rising instances of anti-Semitism globally, Elon Musk’s post, seemingly agreeing with a tweet that paints Jewish people in a bad light, has gone viral.
This has led to major tech advertisers on X such as Apple, IBM and Lionsgate to pause their ads on the platform, according to media reports.
“IBM has zero tolerance for hate speech and discrimination and we have immediately suspended all advertising on X while we investigate this entirely unacceptable situation,” said the tech major in a statement to a prominent media house.
Broadcasters like Warner Bros, Paramount, Sony Pictures, and Comcast/NBCUniversal have also announced their decision to suspend their ads on the platform.
The outspoken tech mogul endorsed a tweet that accused Jewish people of “stoking hatred against white people,” replying with “You have said the actual truth.”
Musk has been castigated by various factions, including the White House, who accused the billionaire of endorsing a “hideous anti-Semitic lie.”
X (formerly Twitter) has been seeing an advertiser exodus over hate speech concerns after Musk projected the platform as a free speech bastion on the internet.
It was reported in June 2023 that ad sales at X slumped 56%, dropping $30 billion from a year earlier.
Musk also locked horns with Apple in December last year after the tech giant, which was among its biggest advertisers, decreased its ad spends on X.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino attempted to do some damage control without taking any names: “X’s point of view has always been very clear that discrimination by everyone should STOP across the board.”
Musk has offered some clarification regarding the contentious post, refuting the accusations and blaming "bogus media stories" that called him anti-semitic.
