Elon Musk addressed his recent antisemitic tweet at The New York Times DealBook Summit, apologizing for the “dumbest” social media post and vehemently criticizing advertisers for pulling their ads off the platform due to the rising antisemitism controversy. Musk admitted that he was philosemitic and aimed to clarify six ways from Sunday. He also took a strong stance against advertisers leaving the X platform, directing his message explicitly to those who might attempt to influence the platform through financial means. The controversy led to a notable exodus of advertisers from X, with major media companies like Disney, Paramount, NBCUniversal, Comcast, Lionsgate, and Warner Bros. Discovery paused their advertising on the platform. Musk’s recent visit to Israel became a focal point of discussion, with him clarifying that the trip wasn’t an “apology tour” in response to the backlash. The interview also touched on Musk’s views on artificial intelligence (AI) and the recent drama at OpenAI, expressing concern about the potential dangers of AI and suggesting renaming it as “super closed source for maximum profit AI.”
Apology and Admission of Fault
During the interview, Musk, clad in a leather jacket, black jeans, leather boots, and a necklace given to him by a family member of an Israeli hostage, expressed regret for his controversial tweet. He admitted that it might be “literally the worst and dumbest post” among the 30,000 he has shared on social media. Musk acknowledged the gravity of his mistake, stating, “I’ve tried my best to clarify six ways from Sunday, but you know, at least I think it’ll be obvious that, in fact, far from being antisemitic, I’m, in fact, philosemitic.”
Lashing Out at Advertisers
In a surprising turn of events, Musk took a strong stance against advertisers leaving the X platform, using explicit language to convey his frustration. “I don’t want them to advertise. If someone is going to blackmail me with advertising or money, go fuck yourself. Musk declared, directing his message explicitly to advertisers who might attempt to influence the platform through financial means.
Musk’s frustration was palpable as he addressed the audience, singling out Disney CEO Bob Iger, who spoke earlier at the summit. Musk’s strong language and refusal to back down on this front showcased a defiant attitude toward those attempting to exert financial pressure on him and the X platform.
Advertiser Exodus
The controversy surrounding Musk’s antisemitic tweet led to a notable exodus of advertisers from X. Major media companies, including Disney, Paramount, NBCUniversal, Comcast, Lionsgate, and Warner Bros. Discovery (the parent company of CNN), paused their advertising on the platform. The fallout from Musk’s public embrace of an antisemitic conspiracy theory favored by White supremacists had a significant impact on X’s advertising partnerships.
Musk’s Visit to Israel and Clarification
Amid the controversy, Musk’s recent visit to Israel became a focal point of discussion. Musk clarified that the trip wasn’t an “apology tour” in response to the backlash. During his time in Israel, Musk visited a Kibbutz attacked by Hamas, spoke with families of Israeli hostages, and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. Despite these engagements, Musk asserted that he is a good person but won’t engage in performative actions to prove it.
Insights into Musk’s Mind: AI and OpenAI Drama
The interview also touched on Elon Musk views on artificial intelligence (AI) and the recent drama at OpenAI, a company he co-founded. Musk expressed concern about the potential dangers of AI, likening it to a “ring of power” that can corrupt. He criticized OpenAI for deviating from its initial vision of being an open-source enterprise and suggested renaming it as “super closed source for maximum profit AI.”
The conversation with Elon Musk took unexpected turns, delving into topics such as childhood trauma, aliens, cellphones in people’s heads, and using X in the bathroom. The eccentricity of Musk’s statements led to a portion of the audience leaving before the discussion officially concluded.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s interview at The New York Times DealBook Summit was a rollercoaster of emotions, ranging from a public apology for his antisemitic tweet to a defiant stance against advertisers. The controversy surrounding Musk’s social media activity continues to raise questions about the intersection of free speech, corporate responsibility, and the consequences of public statements in the digital age. As Musk grapples with the fallout from his actions, the future trajectory of X and his role in it remains uncertain.
