Musk says antisemitic tweet was ‘foolish’ – but blames media for angry reaction
Elon Musk has admitted that his endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory on his social media site X, previously known as Twitter, was a “mistake” and “one of the most foolish” things he had done on the platform. The world’s richest man said he had “no problem being hated” but also blamed members of the media for much of the outrage surrounding the post, which is thought to have contributed to major investors in the platform pulling funding. Earlier this month, Mr Musk responded to a Twitter/X user who accused Jewish people of hating white people by saying it was “the actual truth.” His actions sparked global outrage, with several world leaders condemning his endorsement of the conspiracy theory. Speaking at the New York Times’ Dealbook Summit this week, Mr Musk discussed the post and said that the outrage caused was “not my intention”. “[It was] one of the most foolish — if not the most foolish — thing I’ve done on the platform,” he said. “I should in retrospect not have replied to that one person and should have written in greater length what I meant,” he said. “But those clarifications were ignored by the media and essentially I handed a loaded gun to those who hate me and arguably to those who are antisemitic. And for that I’m quite sorry, that was not my intention.” Earlier this week, Mr Musk visited Israel and toured a kibbutz attacked by Hamas, meeting with Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The pair visited the Kfar Aza kibbutz, which Hamas attacked on 7 October, killing an estimated 52 residents. Another 20 people are reported as missing. Mr Musk said witnessing the scenes of the massacre was “jarring”, during a live event on Twitter/X with Mr Netanyahu after the tour. Speaking at the Dealbook Summit, he denied that the visit had been – as some had described it – an “apology tour”. “[The trip to Israel] wasn’t in response to that at all,” Mr Musk said, adding: “I have no problem being hated.” Mr Musk later went further, addressing companies that had pulled marketing from X over concerns related to far-right content and accusing them of “blackmail”. “Don’t advertise,” he said at the New York Times’ Dealbook Summit. “If someone is going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money? Go f*** yourself. Go f*** yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is.” Read More Elon Musk believes OpenAI may have made ‘dangerous’ discovery OpenAI may have made a ‘dangerous’ artificial intelligence discovery, Elon Musk says Elon Musk publicly tells advertisers to ‘go f*** yourselves’ Elon Musk mocked for trying to resurrect QAnon Pizzagate conspiracy Elon Musk set to meet Netanyahu and hostage families in Israel Elon Musk weighs in on Dublin riots claiming country’s PM ‘hates the Irish people’
2023-12-01 04:45
Police searching for two people accused in FBI agent carjacking in Washington
Police are searching for two people after an FBI agent was carjacked in Washington D
2023-12-01 04:28
North Carolina trial judges block election board changes made by Republican legislature
North Carolina trial judges have blocked portions of a new law that will eliminate Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s authority to pick election board members
2023-12-01 04:26
Valerie Tindall: Indiana girl missing for nearly half a year found stuffed and buried in neighbor’s yard
The suspect Patrick Scott was a friend of the family and owned the lawn care business where Valerie Tindall was employed
2023-12-01 04:25
'Killers of the Flower Moon' named best film of 2023 by New York film critics
Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon” has been named the best film of the year by the New York Film Critics Circle
2023-12-01 04:18
Penguin parents sleep for just a few seconds at a time to guard newborns, study shows
Researchers have discovered that some penguin parents sleep for only seconds at a time around-the-clock to protect their eggs and chicks
2023-12-01 03:59
After hearing, judge mulls extending pause on John Oates' sale of stake in business with Daryl Hall
A lawsuit by Daryl Hall over John Oates’ plan to sell his share of the Hall & Oates duo’s joint venture without the other’s permission has gone in front of a judge
2023-12-01 03:57
Biden hosts the Angolan president in an effort to showcase strengthened ties, as Africa visit slips
President Joe Biden is hosting Angolan President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço in the Oval Office as he seeks to reaffirm his commitment to Africa
2023-12-01 03:55
USC's Bronny James cleared by doctors for return to basketball 4 months after cardiac arrest
Bronny James has been cleared by doctors for a full return to basketball four months after suffering a cardiac arrest
2023-12-01 03:53
Trucking boss gets 7 years for role in 2019 smuggling that led to deaths of 39 Vietnamese migrants
The final member in a migrant smuggling ring that was responsible for the deaths of 39 Vietnamese immigrants who suffocated in a shipping container in 2019 has been sentenced by a London judge to seven years in prison
2023-12-01 03:53
Barton Seltmann: Pennsylvania man arrested for beating his wife to death after argument over money for veterinary care of their cat
Barton Seltmann was arraigned on charges of first-degree murder and third-degree murder and is being held at Montgomery County Correctional Facility
2023-12-01 03:52
New York punished 2,000 prisoners over false positive drug tests, report finds
New York’s prison system unfairly punished more than 2,000 prisoners after tests of suspected contraband substances falsely tested positive for drugs according to a report released Thursday by state Inspector General Lucy Lang
2023-12-01 03:47
You Might Like...
Leading Republican Jewish group to co-sponsor next GOP debate
Where are Duncan Martinez and Nathaniel Blalock now? 'NBC Dateline' to rerun UCLA student's murder case
LSU's Angel Reese goes right back to a starting role upon return from 4-game absence
Who is Scott Brown's wife? Ex-US senator claims he threatened to 'kick the s**t' out of Joe Biden for getting 'handsy' with Gail Huff
Kourtney Kardashian’s partner Travis Barker reveals baby's name
Biden tells US Air Force Academy graduates their leadership needed; trips after speech
Rampant Nepal rewrite cricket record books in Asian Games mismatch
Vast stretches of coastal New England face hurricane and tropical storm watches ahead of Hurricane Lee's arrival