Elon Musk has been topping headlines all across the globe after his fiery remarks on stage at the New York Times DealBook Summit this week. Musk did not back down from enemies who he said were trying to silence him or to make him back down from saying what was on the extravagant billionaire’s mind. Without mincing words, he explained exactly how he feels about the advertisers who have pulled money from X due to social justice concerns.
Musk was not at the conference to make friends, he was there to make a statement. Through interviews and speeches that lasted the entirety of Wednesday, Musk earned his reputation as one of the few billionaires who is not going to play the game of niceties and blind respect. He said, “There’s a real weakness in wanting to be liked. I don’t have that.”
Musk even went as far as to directly address the companies that are pulling their advertising dollars away from X, claiming that Musk has made the platform a burden if the companies become tied to the brand. Musk, in his typical blunt fashion, told those companies to “Go. F—. Yourself,” adding, “Is that clear? I hope it is.”
Some major critics have accused Musk of espousing anti-semitic hate in public posts on X, and plenty of other speakers at DealBook spoke about that at length. Israeli President Isaac Herzog met with Musk following the posts and subsequent allegations and seemed pleased that he and Musk were in agreement regarding the Oct. 7 attacks perpetrated by Hamas.
Herzog said, “He is a very influential and important leader in various fields of life. I raised immediately our fear and our criticism about the issue of antisemitism and how it’s approached, especially the use of hate and antisemitism in various platforms including his. It was a very open and frank discussion.”
X CEO Linda Yaccarino penned a message to X employees applauding the company’s owner for his strong speeches at the conference, which was later leaked to CNBC. She wrote, “Elon’s interview was candid and profound. He shared an unmatched and completely unvarnished perspective and vision for the future. If you haven’t watched it, please take the time to absorb the magnitude and importance of what we’re all a part of.”
Yaccarino reiterated in the letter the profound goal of X under the new leadership of Musk, explaining that a platform where folks are free to speak their mind without fear of censorship is the main mission of the platform. She explained this very clearly to remind her employees of the importance of the work they do for X.
She said, “Our mission at X is bold: to be an open platform without censorship of thought – one that provides people information and the freedom to make up their own minds. Our principles do not have a price tag, nor will they be compromised – ever. And no matter how hard they try, we will not be distracted by sideline critics who don’t understand our mission.”
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