Apple and Disney have joined other major companies in pausing their online advertising campaigns on X, formerly known as Twitter, after owner Elon Musk showed support for a social media post accusing “Jewish communities” of fueling “hatred against whites.”
Warner Bros Discovery, Paramount Global, and Lions Gate Entertainment are also suspending campaigns on the social media platform, as confirmed spokespeople for the companies. Additionally, the parent company of CNBC, Comcast, stated that it is pausing its online advertising campaigns on the site.
Apple’s move was first reported Axios and Disney’s The New York Times. This comes after a report published Media Matters for America singled out major companies like IBM, Oracle, and Infinity for running ads next to content promoting Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.
IBM immediately halted its online ad campaigns on the platform and expressed zero tolerance for hate speech and discrimination in a statement. However, Apple, Disney, and Oracle have not responded to requests for comment.
A coalition of Jewish leaders, activists, and academics has urged companies like Disney, Apple, and Amazon to stop funding the platform through their ad spend. This comes after Elon Musk made controversial statements and received public criticism, including from the White House.
Musk acknowledged the backlash via his X messaging service, as he previously expressed similar views in interviews with CNBC. Despite facing criticism, Musk’s tweets are reportedly against the site’s terms of service and will result in suspension.
The situation continues to escalate, and public pressure is increasing on companies to take a stand against the proliferation of hate speech and discrimination.
As a result, more companies have paused their advertising campaigns, and further developments are expected as the story unfolds.