Apple, Comcast, Disney, IBM, Lionsgate, Paramount, Warner Brothers and even the European Commission, one of the highest institutions of the European Union, announced that they will suspend or reduce their spending on ads on X (formerly Twitter) after Elon Musk supported a post that was considered “antisemitic” by various progressive media outlets, such as The New York Times.
Have suspended advertising on X
- Apple
- Comcast
- Disney
- European Commission
- IBM
- Lionsgate
- Paramount
- Warner Brothers— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) November 18, 2023
On Wednesday, one user published a post on X claiming that Jews who stand up to antisemitism are pushing the “exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them.”
Musk supported the comment by responding: “You have said the actual truth.”
You have said the actual truth
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 15, 2023
Since then, the media accused Musk of supporting antisemitism, and many companies took advantage of the comment to suspend their ads on X, which, after being acquired by the South African magnate, has been immersed in dozens of controversies that involved prominent businessmen, politicians and mass media.
However, the owner of X has quietly responded to the criticism, showing his support for the Jewish community on the platform.
“As I said earlier this week, 'decolonization', 'from the river to the sea' and similar euphemisms necessarily imply genocide. Clear calls for extreme violence are against our terms of service and will result in suspension,” Musk wrote on X at the height of the controversy.
As I said earlier this week, “decolonization”, “from the river to the sea” and similar euphemisms necessarily imply genocide.
Clear calls for extreme violence are against our terms of service and will result in suspension. https://t.co/1fCFo5Lezb
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 17, 2023
After accusations of antisemitism against Musk, some conservative commentators, such as writer Mike Cernovich, publicly defended the owner of X and Tesla.
“If Elon Musk hadn’t bought X, no one sees those Hamas videos. American media would have blurred. Twitter was supportive of Hamas and would have banned them as graphic content. Israel would be accused of attacking for no reason. Not seeing more people defend Elon is mind blowing,” Cernovich wrote.
If Elon Musk hadn’t bought X, no one sees those Hamas videos. American media would have blurred. Twitter was supportive of Hamas and would have banned them as graphic content. Israel would be accused of attacking for no reason. Not seeing more people defend Elon is mind blowing.
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) November 17, 2023
Conservative commentators have not been alone in supporting Musk in this controversy but also Jewish media figures, such as Ben Shapiro, supported Musk in his criticism of progressive Jewish organizations, such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), characterized by its attacks on the Republican Party and conservatives.
In particular, Shapiro emphasized ADL’s role in supporting controversial policy positions in the United States related to radical progressivism and its attacks on the conservative movement that have led to a wariness of the Jewish community in the West.
Ben Shapiro defends Elon Musk’s criticism of the ADL and progressive Jewish organizations whose policies have resulted in the widespread increase in anti-Western and anti-Jewish sentiment throughout the West. pic.twitter.com/CAcRElPQ7i
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) November 16, 2023
Biden administration joins in criticism
White House spokesman Andrew Bates issued a statement condemning Musk "in the strongest terms."
Bates accused the tycoon of committing an "abhorrent promotion of antisemitic and racist hate" that "runs against our core values as Americans."
As I said earlier this week, “decolonization”, “from the river to the sea” and similar euphemisms necessarily imply genocide.
Clear calls for extreme violence are against our terms of service and will result in suspension. https://t.co/1fCFo5Lezb
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 17, 2023
