Billionaire Elon Musk, known for his unfiltered approach, stirred up controversy yet again at the 2023 DealBook Summit. Speaking in New York on Nov. 29, Musk, the owner of micro-blogging platform X (formerly Twitter), didn’t mince words when addressing the exodus of advertisers from his platform.
The controversy stems from Musk’s recent endorsement of posts deemed antisemitic, which the White House condemned. Although Musk has apologized and removed the contentious tweet, the backlash continues.
Musk’s response to the question of advertisers leaving X was blunt:
“If someone is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, go f**k yourself… Is that clear?”
This outburst, including a casual shout-out to Disney CEO Bob Iger, has raised eyebrows. Disney is among the companies that have pulled ads from X.
“GO FUCK YOURSELF”
– Elon Musk pic.twitter.com/UnucuBSBKj
— Teslaconomics (@Teslaconomics) November 30, 2023
Musk warned that the advertising boycott could spell doom for the company. He vowed to expose the role of advertisers in the potential downfall of X, heightening tensions in an already strained relationship.
A recent report highlights the financial stakes, with X possibly losing up to $75 million from over 200 advertisers withdrawing, including giants like Airbnb, Coca-Cola, and Microsoft. Moreover, a study revealed ads from brands like Apple and Oracle appearing next to objectionable content on X, leading to further ad withdrawals.
The aftermath of Musk’s takeover of X has been stark. According to NPR, 50 of the top 100 advertisers, including Ford, Verizon, and Chipotle, have ceased advertising, significantly impacting the platform’s valuation and stability.
In a lighter vein, crypto adviser Aubrey Strobel noted the lack of profanity delay on CNBC’s live broadcast of Musk’s remarks, potentially resulting in FCC fines. This humorous twist on a serious situation underlines the unpredictable nature of Musk’s leadership.