Elon Musk has threatened to sue media watchdog Media Matters and others over claims his social media company X ran advertisements alongside antisemitic content.
Media Matters reported last week that advertisements by International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM), Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL), Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL), and Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA)’s Xfinity were being run alongside antisemitic content, including pro-Nazi content.
Musk said in a post on X, formerly Twitter Inc (NYSE:TWTR), late on Friday that “the split second court opens on Monday, X Corp will be filing a thermonuclear lawsuit against Media Matters and all those who colluded in this fraudulent attack on our company.”
“Their board, their donors, their network of money, all of them.”
Musk claimed Media Matters’ article “misrepresented the user experience on X, in another attempt to undermine freedom of speech and mislead investors.”
The split second court opens on Monday, X Corp will be filing a thermonuclear lawsuit against Media Matters and ALL those who colluded in this fraudulent attack on our company pic.twitter.com/55vl7PspaQ
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 18, 2023
X CEO Linda Yaccarino endorsed Musk’s post, adding: “Protecting the freedom of speech could not be more urgent and important. Now, more than ever!”
According to media reports citing people familiar with the matter, Yaccarino is being pressured by executives and friends from the advertising industry to resign from her position to “save her reputation.”
The Media Matters report came when Musk himself was under fire for supporting a post on X that perpetuated an antisemitic conspiracy theory.
The situation has resulted in big names withdrawing their advertising from X, including IBM, the European Commission, Warner Bros Discovery Inc (NASDAQ:WBD), Paramount Global (NASDAQ:PARA), and The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS).
Musk said in a post on Sunday that “nothing could be further from the truth” than “hundreds of bogus media stories claiming I am antisemitic.”
“I wish only the best for humanity and a prosperous and exciting future for all.”
Contact the author at emily.jarvie@proactiveinvestors.com
Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @emilyjjarvie