X CEO Linda Yaccarino responded late Wednesday to comments platform owner Elon Musk made on the advertising boycott the company is currently experiencing.
At The New York Times Dealbook Summit on Wednesday, Musk was asked about the growing number of companies that have pulled their advertising from the social media platform over his eyebrow-raising posts and the policy changes he has made.
"Don't advertise," the tech billionaire responded. "If someone is going to try and blackmail me with advertising? Blackmail me with money? Go f*** yourself. Go f*** yourself, is that clear? Hey Bob [Iger], if you're in the audience: That's how I feel. Don't advertise."
In a post on the platform hours later, Yaccarino seemed to support Musk's feelings on the matter.
"X is enabling an information independence that's uncomfortable for some people," she said. "We're a platform that allows people to make their own decisions. And here's my perspective when it comes to advertising: X is standing at a unique and amazing intersection of Free Speech and Main Street — and the X community is powerful and is here to welcome you. To our partners who believe in our meaningful work — Thank You."
Musk came under fire earlier this month for responding to an antisemitic post. Since then, major advertisers including Apple, IBM, Lions Gate Entertainment and Disney — of which Iger is the CEO — have stopped advertising on X.
Yaccarino, a veteran advertising executive, was hired to replace Musk as the company's CEO in May.
Yaccarino previously said the company has been "extremely clear about our efforts to combat antisemitism and discrimination" in a post on the platform.
"There's no place for it anywhere in the world — it's ugly and wrong," she wrote. "Full stop."
Nicole Weatherholtz ✉
Nicole Weatherholtz, a Newsmax general assignment reporter covers news, politics, and culture. She is a National Newspaper Association award-winning journalist.
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