Elon Musk curses out advertisers who left X over antisemitic content

This outburst followed his apology at the New York Times DealBook Summit for a November 15 tweet endorsing an anti-Jewish post.

Musk, facing backlash for supporting a tweet promoting the "Great Replacement" conspiracy theory, described his tweet as possibly his worst, amidst many "foolish" ones. He insisted he's not antisemitic and rebuked advertisers leaving X, refusing to be blackmailed.

During the interview, Musk referred directly to Robert Iger, Walt Disney's CEO, whose company pulled ads from X, questioning the association's value. Disney did not immediately respond for comment.

Musk emphasized his focus on genuine goodness over perception, criticizing those who prioritize appearances while acting harmfully. Lou Paskalis, a marketing expert, sees Musk's remarks as a significant turning point for brands associated with X.

Musk, highlighting the quality of his companies' products, including Tesla and SpaceX, expressed disdain for pandering. He claimed his work at Tesla has notably benefited the environment.

His comments coincided with U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's speech on rising antisemitism and its global threat. The White House condemned Musk's tweet for promoting hate.

Following his post, companies like Walt Disney and Warner Bros Discovery paused advertising on X. Media Matters reported finding ads near pro-Nazi posts on X, leading to a defamation lawsuit from the platform.

Musk, acknowledging potential financial failure due to the ad boycott, visited Israel to discuss antisemitism. He asserted X's stance against hate speech and wore a symbolic dog tag supporting Israeli hostages.

His interview covered various topics, from freedom of speech to environmental issues, even touching on U.S. politics. Musk hinted at not supporting President Joe Biden in the next election but remained noncommittal about voting for Donald Trump.