Watch this video. Elon Musk, in his first interview with mainstream media since his antisemitic post on X earlier this month, apologized for what he called his “dumbest” ever social media post. During the New York Times DealBook Summit interview with MSNBC’s Aaron Ross Sorkin, Musk said repeatedly he was sorry for publishing a tweet on Nov. 15 that agreed with an anti-Jewish post which claimed Jewish people were stoking hatred against white people. Musk in his post said the user, who referenced the “Great Replacement” conspiracy theory, was speaking “the actual truth.”
In the interview Musk said he had “handed a loaded gun” to both detractors and antisemitic people, describing his post as possibly the worst he had made during a history of messages that included many “foolish” ones. Reuters
But he lashed out at advertisers leaving his platform because of rising antisemitism on X.
“I don’t want them to advertise,” he said. “If someone is going to blackmail me with advertising or money go f**k yourself. Go. F**k. Yourself,” he said. “Is that clear? Hey Bob, if you’re in the audience, that’s how I feel”.
The “Hi Bob” was targeted at Disney CEO Bob Iger who is in the audience and has paused advertising on X.
This image of Elon Musk telling the CEO of Disney to "f*ck himself" is one for the ages: pic.twitter.com/P72EzsPrgP
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) November 30, 2023
So then why is Disney boycotting 𝕏, yet spending millions on other platforms? pic.twitter.com/vIX5hhc8RS
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 1, 2023
X users were quick to rush to support Elon. Like Disney’s Star Wars’ Obi Wan Kenobi, he is our only hope for free speech. And when free speech is encouraged mistakes can be made.
Elon Musk is my favorite African American! He just told the all the woke advertisers to go F** Themselves!
— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) November 30, 2023
Including the Disney CEO!
My company" https://t.co/JOaGaqulgw " will start advertising with 𝕏 to support Elon Musk for protecting Free Speech! pic.twitter.com/90wfIyPhyV
Elon Musk is really incompetent at bring antisemitic.
— Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) November 28, 2023
He is sitting here next to prime minister of Israel 🇮🇱, watching Hamas' atrocities, expressing unequivocal support for Israel and calling for annihilation of Hamas.@elonmusk, this is not the way antisemitism is done! 🤡 pic.twitter.com/xN2WsWaS5o
"That's why you just got to pray every night for Elon's health."
— The Maine Wire (@TheMaineWire) December 2, 2023
Tucker Carlson on the importance of X being the only large-scale platform supporting freedom of speech. pic.twitter.com/kIwdku38XM
Incidentally, Musk visited with the relatives of captured Israelis after his gaffe and later in this interview showed a symbolic dog-tag given him by the father of an Israeli taken captive by Hamas in Gaza which he has promised to wear until all the hostages were free.
“Our hearts are hostage in Gaza,” reads the metal tag he received from Malki Shem-Tov, the father of hostage Omer Shem-Tov.