Apple recently joined IBM in ceasing its advertising on X, reportedly due to owner Elon Musk's alignment with far-right viewpoints and endorsement of posts promoting antisemitism. This decision by Apple, a major advertiser on the platform, follows Musk's public support of antisemitic conspiracy theories, as per Axios' late Friday report.
Media outlets revealed that Disney, Warner Bros, Discovery, Paramount, and Comcast/NBCUniversal have also paused their advertisements on X. Additionally, Lionsgate and the European Commission reportedly suspended advertising due to concerns regarding the proliferation of disinformation on the platform.
The non-profit Media Matters highlighted the issue, citing Musk's increasing alignment with white nationalist and antisemitic conspiracy theories and X's placement of ads for prominent brands alongside content supporting Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Media Matters further noted X's reinstatement of accounts associated with bigotry and paid far-right extremists, including a reported instance involving a pro-Hitler and Holocaust denier account within its creator ad revenue sharing program.
The report from Media Matters highlighted the disturbing scenario where corporate advertisements were found on accounts supporting pro-Hitler sentiments, Holocaust denial, white nationalism, violence, and neo-Nazism.
Musk on Saturday posted on X: "Media Matters is pure evil."
X CEO Linda Yaccarino said that their point of view has always been very clear that discrimination by everyone should stop across the board. "When it comes to this platform -- X has also been extremely clear about our efforts to combat antisemitism and discrimination. There's no place for it anywhere in the world -- it's ugly and wrong. Full stop," she posted.
(With Agency Inputs)
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