After a report that various advertisers saw ad placements next to anti-Semitic content on X, a large portion have pulled their advertising from the social media platform. X owner Elon Musk had a strong message for those boycotting the company.
While speaking with CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin, Musk was asked about those companies taking their advertising dollars away from the company and how he views them.
“I hope they stop. Don’t advertise,” Musk said.
“You don’t want them to advertise?,” the CNBC host asked.
“No,” replied Musk. “If somebody’s going to try to blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go f— yourself,” Musk said confidently. “Go. F—. Yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is. Hey, Bob (Iger), if you’re in the audience. That’s how I feel. Don’t advertise.”
When Andrew Ross Sorkin followed up by asking about the economics and the business model of the company without the backing of advertisers, Musk was adamant it will cause the platform to fold.
“What this advertising boycott is gonna do, it’s gonna kill the company,” Musk said. “And the whole world will know that those advertisers killed the company. And we’ll document it in great detail.”
When the CNBC anchor pushed back on the idea that advertisers would be responsible for the downfall of the company, the X owner said “Tell it to Earth. Let’s see how Earth responds to that.”
The advertising boycott comes as Musk faced charges of publishing anti-Semitic content himself. As part of a quasi-apology tour, he visited Israel and met with prominent leaders in the country. Some estimates put the boycott at costing the social media platform $75 million thus far. That comes on the heels of Elon Musk claiming the platform has experienced an advertising drop of 50% in 2023.
