Elon Musk has unleashed a profanity-filled tirade against advertisers on X, formerly known as Twitter, in a furious show of rage and defiance. He warns that their boycott could be the social media platform’s downfall. Musk’s outburst happened at the DealBook Summit hosted by the New York Times, where influential people from different industries came to talk about urgent problems.
When big businesses like Disney, Apple, and Comcast decided to stop running their advertisements on X because they were worried about antisemitism, the issue around the platform intensified. The CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Elon Musk, recently issued an apology for his own contentious tweet, calling it one of his “dumbest” online sharing experiences.
However, it was Musk’s response to the advertising boycott that stole the spotlight. In no uncertain terms, he told companies attempting to use advertising as leverage, “Go [expletive] yourself,” expressing his disdain for what he perceived as attempted blackmail.
During the summit, Musk specifically called out Disney CEO Bob Iger, asserting his strong feelings on the matter. X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, who is tasked with wooing back advertisers, was present in the room during Musk’s explosive comments.
Musk went further, predicting that the advertising boycott could spell doom for X, stating, “What this advertising boycott is going to do is it’s going to kill the company.” He warned that the world would know if advertisers were responsible for the demise of the platform, vowing to document it in great detail.
Despite Musk’s apology and Yaccarino’s attempt to provide perspective on the unique intersection of free speech and commerce on X, it remains uncertain whether Musk’s bold remarks will persuade advertisers to return. The platform has already experienced a significant drop in ad revenue, with Musk acknowledging a 50% decline three months prior.
X, now a private company under Musk’s leadership, faces challenges as it grapples with controversies, legal battles, and a strained relationship with advertisers. The future of the social media giant hangs in the balance, and only time will reveal the impact of Musk’s unfiltered and confrontational stance
