Elon Musk Defends Himself Against Antisemitism Accusations
(Bloomberg) — Elon Musk has hit back at accusations of antisemitism, following backlash over a controversial post on X that caused outrage and led to advertisers like Apple Inc. distancing themselves from the platform.
The Tesla Inc. chief and X-owner sparked outrage last week after endorsing a post that made antisemitic comments, drawing criticism from the White House and Tesla investors. Several major corporations, including Walt Disney Co., have also distanced themselves from the platform.
In response to the backlash, Musk took to Twitter on Sunday to express his desire for the best for humanity. Despite the criticism, hedge fund manager Bill Ackman has come to Musk’s defense. Ackman has previously expressed interest in pursuing a deal with X Corp., according to the Wall Street Journal.
This is not the first time Musk has been accused of promoting hate speech. The latest incident has drawn criticism from politicians and major companies, urging Musk to better control the content on his platform.
Meanwhile, there have been reports of pressure on X CEO Linda Yaccarino to resign in order to salvage her reputation. However, Yaccarino has refused to step down, stating her belief in the company’s mission.
The controversy surrounding Musk’s post and the subsequent fallout with advertisers highlights the ongoing challenges faced by social media platforms in moderating and controlling harmful content.
–With assistance from Dana Hull.
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