Title: Elon Musk apologizes for controversial social media post, expresses concerns about rising antisemitism
Subtitle: Prominent brands pause advertising on X following Musk’s remarks
In a surprising move, Tesla CEO Elon Musk publicly apologized for what he labeled as his “dumbest” ever social media post. The controversial tweet, which was criticized for being antisemitic, led to a number of advertisers on platform X, one of Musk’s ventures, temporarily pausing their advertising.
Speaking at an event, Musk openly expressed remorse for his actions, acknowledging that he sometimes says “the wrong thing.” He claimed he has no problem being hated but added that he doesn’t want advertisers to blacklist him with money. Musk’s remarks came after a series of influential brands decided to halt their advertisements on X in response to his post.
During his speech, Musk also criticized Disney CEO Bob Iger, although Disney has not responded to his remarks. Interestingly, X CEO Linda Yaccarino was present in the audience during Musk’s comments, indicating that the controversy has not severed ties between the two companies.
Seeking to clarify his tweet, Musk emphasized that it was ill-conceived but denied that it was meant to be antisemitic. He described the tweet as “the worst” he has ever done and tried to distance himself from any hateful intent. However, the subsequent pause in advertising by prominent brands indicates that the matter has raised concerns among various stakeholders.
Musk’s recent visit to Israel, where he held conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, served as a backdrop to the controversy. Musk dismissed any assumptions that his visit was an apology tour, emphasizing that he sees himself as a good person but refuses to “tap dance” for others.
On a related note, the Tesla CEO also expressed his worries about artificial intelligence (AI) during his visit. Musk highlighted recent leadership changes within OpenAI, an organization he co-founded, and called attention to the significance of addressing AI-related concerns adequately.
As Elon Musk strives to salvage his reputation amidst the controversy surrounding his social media post, the repercussions of his remarks continue to reverberate across the advertising landscape. With advertisers temporarily withdrawing their support, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact the future of X and Musk’s personal brand.
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