(Bloomberg) — Elon Musk vehemently denounced the “deceptive” media reports accusing him of antisemitism, delivering his most forceful rebuttal yet after endorsing antisemitic material in a post on X that incited outrage and drove away advertisers such as Apple Inc.
The controversy erupted last week when the billionaire Tesla Inc. CEO and X-owner sided with a post asserting that Jewish people harbor a “dialectical hatred” of white people. This endorsement has drawn condemnation from the White House and several Tesla investors, prompting major corporations like Walt Disney Co. to distance themselves from the platform, previously known as Twitter.
On Sunday, Musk tweeted his wish for “the best for humanity.” Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman was among those who sprang to Musk’s defense. Ackman, who previously expressed interest in pursuing a deal with X Corp., is looking to invest in private companies seeking to raise $1.5 billion or more, potentially taking them public, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Musk has a history of promoting hate speech. His recent post has sparked criticism from politicians and some of the world’s largest companies, who have long implored the billionaire to exercise better control over content on his platform.
The Financial Times reported that several advertising executives privately urged X CEO Linda Yaccarino to resign over the weekend in order to salvage her reputation, but she has refused, expressing her belief in the company’s mission.
Read More: Bill Ackman Defends Musk After Antisemitism Backlash on X
–With assistance from Dana Hull.
(Updates with advertiser pressure on CEO in fifth paragraph)
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