Billionaire Elon Musk Reignites Controversy with Pizzagate Conspiracy and Antisemitic Allegations: Major Brands Flee from X
Elon Musk, owner of social media site X, sparks controversy with engagement in Pizzagate conspiracy theory and endorsement of antisemitic content. Major advertisers withdraw ads from X platform. Concerns raised about Musk's credibility and judgment.
Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the social media site X, has once again sparked controversy by engaging with the long-debunked conspiracy theory known as Pizzagate. The theory, which originated in 2016 and is considered a precursor to QAnon, falsely claims that a Washington, D.C. pizza parlor, Comet Ping Pong, was involved in a political plot to traffic children. Musk's involvement in the conspiracy theory came to light when he responded to a user's tweet linking Media Matters founder David Brock to James Alefantis, the owner of the pizza joint.
ELON MUSK COMMENTS ON PIZZAGATE!
— LIZ CROKIN (@LizCrokin) November 21, 2023
Elon Musk commented here on X on a post featuring a screenshot of the story “John Podesta’s Friend Who ‘Debunked’ Pizzagate, Arrested For Child Rape” with an “!” in the replies. This story is about The Recount’s now former Editor-in-Chief, Slade… pic.twitter.com/qRkpCmaxVW
Musk simply replied, "Weird." This response has reignited interest in the debunked theory, which had largely faded from public discourse. This recent incident follows Musk's endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory on X just days prior. The controversial post claimed that Jewish communities promote hatred against whites. Musk faced widespread backlash for his engagement with the antisemitic content, including criticism from the White House. In response to Media Matters' report on X placing ads alongside neo-Nazi and antisemitic rhetoric, Musk threatened to sue the nonprofit organization and labeled it as "evil."
However, as of now, no lawsuit has been filed. This situation has prompted major advertisers such as Apple, Disney, and Sony to pull their ads from the platform. The resurgence of Pizzagate and Musk's involvement with conspiracy theories reflects a concerning trend of the X owner descending into right-wing fever swamps. His actions and controversial statements, including his claim that a mass shooter in Allen, Texas, held white nationalist beliefs as a "psyop created by the media," have raised questions about his credibility and judgment.
Media Matters President Angelo Carusone addressed Musk's campaign against the organization, emphasizing that his erratic behavior and promotion of conspiracy theories make major brands hesitant to partner with X. The volatile nature of Musk's actions further underscores the need for caution and critical evaluation of the information shared on his platform.
