And now, Musk has taken things one step further by not just criticizing but actively trying to take down a media titan. “Mainstream media has had a stranglehold on information for too long,” Musk tweeted later in the night. “The people deserve better. We deserve unbiased coverage, not corporate manipulation.”
As you might expect, his followers took up the charge with enthusiasm, with many proclaiming that they were canceling their ABC subscriptions, deleting the app, and even suggesting an all-out ban of Disney+ (ABC’s parent company). “I’m done with them,” tweeted one Musk devotee. “Elon is right. They’re a relic of the past. Time for the people to take control of the conversation.”
As Musk’s call for a boycott spread across social media, reactions from political and media figures were swift. Predictably, conservatives embraced Musk’s message, praising him for “standing up to the corrupt media” and for “taking on the establishment.” The idea of streaming future debates directly through X was met with excitement among Trump supporters, who have long argued that traditional networks unfairly favor their opponents.
On the other hand, critics were quick to point out Musk’s blatant disregard for journalistic integrity and fairness. “Elon Musk thinks he can take down a major media network because he doesn’t like how a debate was moderated? Please,” one commentator quipped. “This is just another billionaire trying to control the narrative.”
ABC, of course, was not amused. In a statement released shortly after Musk’s tweetstorm, a network spokesperson called Musk’s boycott call “reckless and baseless,” arguing that the moderators did their best to keep the debate on track and factual. “We stand by our moderators and the job they did in providing a fair and balanced debate,” the statement read. “ABC has always been committed to journalistic integrity and will not be swayed by pressure from outside forces.”
Disney, which owns ABC, has remained silent on the matter, though rumors are circulating that the company’s executives are now considering the PR ramifications of Musk’s boycott campaign.
