Caught off guard by the immediate backlash, ABC scrambled to respond to the rapidly unfolding disaster. Executives quickly issued a statement, attempting to tamp down the flames:
“ABC remains committed to providing fair and balanced coverage for all political events. We strive for journalistic integrity and welcome constructive feedback from all of our viewers.”
But by the time ABC’s PR department had finished crafting this boilerplate response, the damage was already done. Musk had weaponized his Twitter/X platform with laser-like precision, and ABC’s subscriber base was shrinking faster than a black hole.
“It’s not just about the debate,” one disgruntled former subscriber said after canceling his service. “It’s about the media thinking they can tell us what to think. If Elon Musk says they’ve gone too far, I believe him.”
