Technology
Thursday, November 30th, 2023 2:59 pm EDT
Key Points
- Musk’s Defiance Against Advertiser Departure: Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), expressed defiance at the 2023 DealBook Summit regarding advertisers leaving the platform due to his amplification of antisemitic posts. Using explicit language, Musk dismissed the idea of being blackmailed by advertisers and singled out Disney CEO Bob Iger, implying potential fan boycotts against departing advertisers. Musk threatened to document in detail how advertisers “killed the company” and asserted his indifference to being hated.
- Adverse Impact of Musk’s Posts and Apology: Musk acknowledged the recent promotion of antisemitic and racist content on X, leading to the suspension of campaigns by major advertisers such as Disney and Apple. Musk described his own tweets as “one of the most foolish” on the platform and issued an apology. The controversial posts resulted in notable users, including Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, abandoning the platform. Musk, also the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, denied being antisemitic and stated that clear calls for extreme violence violate X’s terms of service.
- Musk’s Views on Unions, China, and OpenAI: During the summit, Musk shared generally negative views about unions, characterizing them as creating a divisive atmosphere and pitting workers against management. He asserted that if Tesla were to be unionized, it would be because the company deserved it and had failed. Musk discussed leverage, emphasizing user choice, regulatory oversight, and adherence to local laws. He defended doing business in China, stating adherence to local laws on X, and addressed concerns about potential hypocrisy. Regarding OpenAI’s recent boardroom struggles, Musk expressed mixed feelings about CEO Sam Altman, hinting at concerns about concentrated power and the corrupting influence of power. Musk also conveyed worries about the potential harm of AI to humanity, impacting his sleep.
Elon Musk, owner of X (formerly Twitter), made explicit comments at the 2023 DealBook Summit in New York, responding to advertisers leaving the platform due to his amplification of antisemitic posts. Musk dismissed concerns, 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?” He singled out Disney CEO Bob Iger and implied that his fans would boycott advertisers, vowing to document how they “killed the company.”
X CEO Linda Yaccarino later addressed Musk’s comments, emphasizing X’s role at the intersection of Free Speech and Main Street. She expressed gratitude to supportive partners and asserted that X allows users to make their own decisions. Musk apologized for his inflammatory posts, acknowledging the foolishness of endorsing antisemitic content. His controversial posts led major advertisers, including Disney and Apple, to suspend campaigns, causing some prominent users to abandon the platform.
Musk, also CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, denied antisemitism, asserting that calls for extreme violence violate X’s terms of service. His recent visit to Israel, where he met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was not an apology tour but a pre-planned visit. Musk expressed intent to bring Starlink to the region, specifically aiding humanitarian organizations in Gaza.
Despite Musk’s immense X following, reports suggest a significant portion of his listed followers may be inauthentic or inactive. In response to the UAW launching campaigns against Tesla and other automakers, Musk expressed negative views about unions, deeming them divisive. He stated that if Tesla unionizes, it’s because they deserve it or failed in some way.
Regarding leverage, Musk highlighted user choice and regulatory oversight for his companies operating globally. Addressing concerns about China, he emphasized adherence to local laws. On OpenAI’s recent boardroom struggles, Musk expressed mixed feelings about CEO Sam Altman, suggesting concerns about concentrated power. He also voiced worries about AI’s potential harm to humanity, impacting his sleep.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/29/elon-musk-to-advertisers-who-are-trying-to-blackmail-him-go-f—-yourself.html
