Several major advertisers, including Apple, Disney, Comcast, Lionsgate Entertainment, and Paramount Global, have initiated a mass exodus from the ‘X’ platform in response to a controversial post by its owner, Elon Musk.
Musk’s tweet, which seemingly endorsed an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory, has sparked widespread criticism.
Non-profit organization Media Matters detailed the companies’ decision to suspend their advertisements on ‘X’. A spokesperson for Lionsgate Entertainment, a film production and distribution company, stated that the company suspended its ads on ‘X’ due to Musk’s recent tweets that were perceived as anti-Semitic.
This boycott comes in the wake of tech giant IBM’s announcement on Thursday that it had halted its advertising on ‘X’. The decision was influenced by a report that its ads were displayed alongside pro-Nazi posts on the platform.
The White House condemned Musk’s “vile promotion” of anti-Semitism. This follows Musk’s response to an anti-Semitic post on ‘X’, where he commented, “The actual truth has been spoken”. The initial post, identified by the White House and several U.S. media outlets, is said to allude to an age-old conspiracy theory about a secret Jewish plan to bring undocumented immigrants to the United States, undermining the white majority’s dominance.
This conspiracy theory has been associated with the shooter in the 2011 Pittsburgh synagogue attack, which resulted in 18 fatalities. White House spokesperson Andrew Bates, commenting on Musk’s post, said it was “unacceptable” to repeat such a “vile lie”.
He added, “We strongly condemn this hateful promotion of anti-Semitism and racial hatred, which goes against our core values as Americans.”
“We all have a responsibility to bring people together against hate and a duty not to be silent when anyone attacks the dignity of our fellow Americans and undermines the safety of our communities.”
