Several major corporations, including Apple, IBM, Disney, Lionsgate, and Warner Bros, have suspended their advertising campaigns on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter. This decision comes in the wake of the platform's owner, Elon Musk, endorsing an anti-Semitic post. The controversial post accused Jewish communities of promoting hatred against white people, a claim that has drawn widespread criticism.
The suspension of advertising by these corporations reflects growing concerns about the platform's content. Reports have highlighted instances where ads from these companies appeared alongside tweets praising Adolf Hitler and promoting Nazi ideology. This has raised questions about the platform's content moderation policies and practices.
In addition to the aforementioned companies, other entities such as the European Commission have also suspended their advertising on X. This collective action follows a call from a coalition of 163 Jewish leaders, activists, and academics urging businesses to stop funding X through their ad spend.
The controversy has sparked discussions about Elon Musk's role within his companies, including Tesla and X. Linda Yaccarino, X's CEO, has been trying to reassure advertisers that the platform is a safe space for brands. However, the recent events have led to a significant backlash, with some companies like NCTA and Gilead Sciences pausing their spending on the platform for similar reasons.
The situation continues to evolve, with the companies involved and the platform itself yet to announce any definitive future plans regarding their advertising strategies on X.