Numerous prominent movie and TV studios such as Disney and HBO have withdrawn their advertising revenue and ceased posting on X, formerly known as Twitter, following a controversial message shared by owner Elon Musk. The entertainment industry has seen division over the Israel-Hamas war in recent weeks, with Netflix facing criticism after "Stranger Things" star Noah Schnapp was spotted posing with friends holding "Zionism is sexy" stickers.
After Melissa Barrera was terminated from her role in Scream 7 due to controversial posts about the conflict, her supporters have drawn comparisons to Schnapp's situation. Now, several prominent studios are taking measures against X following a tweet from Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform. Caution: This content may be upsetting to some.
Major studios boycott X after Elon Musk’s controversial tweet
Following Musk's agreement with an antisemitic tweet, major studios such as Marvel, Warner Bros., Star Wars, Sony Pictures, Disney, Paramount, HBO, Universal, and Lionsgate have ceased their X/Twitter postings.
The original statement indicated that Jewish communities are promoting a form of hatred against whites that they denounce, and that "western Jewish populations" are realizing that minority groups who support immigration may not have positive feelings towards them. Musk responded, "You have spoken the truth."
X/Twitter
Following the lead of major businesses like Apple, Hollywood's production companies have also halted their advertising on the platform. Several big names such as Marvel Studios, Warner Bros., Star Wars, Sony Pictures, and Disney have not posted since November 16 or 17, which was around the time of Musk's response.
Lionsgate, currently promoting The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, has suspended advertising on X due to Elon Musk's recent antisemitic tweet, according to a spokesperson. Disney and Comcast NBCUniversal have also halted promotional spending on the site, and Warner Bros. Discovery has "paused" its already minimal presence on X.
X/Twitter
The departure of Linda Yaccarino from her role as chair of global advertising and partnerships at Comcast NBCUniversal to become the CEO of X has created significant news.
Amid the Musk controversy, she made it clear: "X has been unwavering in our efforts to fight against antisemitism and discrimination. There is no tolerance for it anywhere in the world."
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Editor's P/S
As an enthusiastic fan, I feel deeply troubled and disappointed by the recent turn of events involving X, formerly known as Twitter, and its owner Elon Musk. The revelation that Musk endorsed an antisemitic tweet is utterly unacceptable and goes against the values of inclusivity and respect that I cherish. It is disheartening to see such a prominent platform, which has the potential to connect and inspire people, being used to spread hate and division.
The decision by major entertainment studios, including Disney and HBO, to take a stand against X by withdrawing their advertising revenue and ceasing their posting activities is a commendable step. It sends a clear message that hate speech and intolerance will not be tolerated. I stand in solidarity with these studios and hope that their actions will serve as a catalyst for change, prompting X to address the issue of hate speech on its platform effectively.
