Technology
Thursday, November 30th, 2023 2:55 pm EDT
Key Points
- Elon Musk’s Explicit Comments and Advertiser Backlash: The article revolves around explicit comments made by Elon Musk, X’s owner and CTO, directed at advertisers during an interview at the 2023 DealBook Summit. Musk, in response to potential advertising-based attempts to influence him, used strong language, stating, “If somebody’s going to try to blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go f—yourself. Go. F—. Yourself. Is that clear?” This outburst follows a recent controversy where major advertisers, including Disney, Apple, IBM, Comcast, Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount Global, and Lions Gate Entertainment, pulled their ads from X after Musk endorsed a social media post accused of promoting antisemitism.
- X CEO Linda Yaccarino’s Response and Platform Perspective: X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, responded to Musk’s comments, describing them as an “explicit point of view about our position.” She emphasized X as a platform that allows users to make their own decisions, positioning it at the intersection of Free Speech and Main Street. In a late-night statement on X, Yaccarino expressed gratitude to partners supporting the platform’s meaningful work and welcomed the X community’s power. Her response is part of ongoing efforts to navigate challenges and controversies, particularly related to the platform’s stance on free speech and advertiser relations.
- Corporate Dynamics, Apology, and Advertiser Relations: The article delves into the broader corporate dynamics at X, highlighting the tension between Musk’s explicit comments and the adverse reactions from advertisers. Musk’s explicit remarks come amid efforts by X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, to rebuild advertiser trust after Musk’s takeover of the company in 2022. The article notes Yaccarino’s optimism in August, where she stated that brands were returning to the platform. Musk, during the interview, apologized for his inflammatory comments on X, specifically acknowledging a post where he agreed with an antisemitic conspiracy theory as “one of the most foolish if not the most foolish thing I’ve ever done on the platform.” The response from X to CNBC’s request for comment was an automated one, while Disney, Apple, and IBM did not provide immediate responses, highlighting the evolving nature of the situation and the uncertainties in advertiser relations for the platform.
X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, responded to Elon Musk’s explicit comments directed at advertisers during an interview with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin at the 2023 DealBook Summit in New York. Musk, who is the owner and CTO of X (formerly known as Twitter), had expressed strong sentiments, stating, “If somebody’s going to try to blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go f—yourself. Go. F—. Yourself. Is that clear?”
Yaccarino characterized Musk’s remarks as an “explicit point of view about our position.” In a statement on X, she emphasized the platform’s role as one that allows users to make their own decisions. Yaccarino positioned X as standing at the intersection of Free Speech and Main Street, highlighting the power of the X community and expressing gratitude to partners who support their meaningful work.
The backdrop to Musk’s comments involves a recent controversy that led major advertisers, including Disney, Apple, IBM, Comcast, Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount Global, and Lions Gate Entertainment, to pull their ads from X. Musk had endorsed a social media post accusing “Jewish communities” of promoting “hatred against whites,” prompting condemnation from The White House for promoting antisemitic and racist hate.
During the interview, Musk singled out Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, who also spoke at the DealBook Summit, with a casual greeting, “Hi Bob!” The interview also featured Musk apologizing for his inflammatory comments on X, acknowledging a specific post where he agreed with an antisemitic conspiracy theory as “one of the most foolish if not the most foolish thing I’ve ever done on the platform.”
Yaccarino, who took on the role of X’s CEO in May, had been appointed with the task of rebuilding advertiser trust on the platform following Musk’s acquisition of the company in 2022. In August, she had expressed optimism, stating that brands were returning to X and should feel comfortable placing ads.
In response to CNBC’s request for comment, X provided an automated response. As of the reporting, Disney, Apple, and IBM had not immediately responded. The article encapsulates the ongoing challenges and controversies surrounding X, Elon Musk’s role, and the platform’s efforts to navigate issues related to free speech, advertiser relations, and public perception.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/30/x-ceo-addresses-musks-go-f-yourself-comment-to-advertisers.html
