Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), has sent a memo to employees in response to Elon Musk’s recent interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin, which she described as “candid” and “profound.”
During the interview at Wednesday’s DealBook Summit, Musk accused advertisers of attempting to “blackmail” him by pulling ads from the platform after he expressed agreement with a social media post that made controversial remarks about “Jewish communities” and “hatred against whites.” These comments were widely condemned, including by the White House, which criticized Musk for promoting “antisemitic and racist hate.”
In response to Musk’s interview, Yaccarino urged employees to watch the interview and “absorb the magnitude and importance of what we’re all a part of.” She emphasized the unique position that X (formerly Twitter) holds as a groundbreaking company and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to being an open platform without censorship of thought.
Musk also addressed the companies, such as Disney and Apple, that paused their advertising campaigns with X, expressing regret for his controversial posts and denying accusations of antisemitism. He referred to his comments as “one of the most foolish if not the most foolish thing I’ve ever done on the platform.”
In her memo, Yaccarino expressed her pride and enthusiasm for leading X, stating, “You’re at X because you have the courage and conviction to build and operationalize the most consequential platform that exists.”
The memo concluded with Yaccarino reiterating her availability to employees and signing off with her name.
The aftermath of Musk’s interview and Yaccarino’s response points to the ongoing challenges and controversies faced by social media platforms, as they navigate issues of free speech, censorship, and responsible content moderation.