Washington Post Follows Apple, Disney In Pulling Ads From X As Fallout From Musk's Conspiracy Theories Worsens

Advertisers are increasingly fleeing Elon Musk‘s X following the billionaire’s endorsement of a debunked anti-Semitic conspiracy theory. The latest is the Washington Post, joining the ranks of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Walt Disney Co. (NYSE:DIS), among others.

What Happened: The decision was taken following Musk’s endorsement of the discredited "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory, reported Washingtonian.

Musk’s recent backing of an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory could reportedly cost X, formerly Twitter, over $75 million in revenue. It has also prompted some media organizations to cut ties with the platform, while the Paris mayor called it a "global sewer" and quit the platform.

The advertising halt is set to come into effect this week, according to a spokesperson for the Washington Post.

The exact amount the newspaper spent on advertising on X remains undisclosed. The ads are anticipated to stop running on the platform shortly. As of now, X has not commented on the matter.

Why It Matters: This move is a continuation of a trend of major companies pulling their advertisements from X due to Musk’s controversial posts. Earlier, tech giant Apple and other large corporations such as Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery (NASDAQ:WBD), and IBM (NYSE:IBM) had also withdrawn their ads from X.

Despite the backlash, Musk remained steadfast, asserting his commitment to his principles.

Furthermore, X filed a defamation lawsuit against Media Matters following a contentious report alleging that major brand advertisements were displayed alongside pro-Nazi content. This report led several advertisers, including IBM and Comcast.

Image source – Shutterstock

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What Happened: The decision was taken following Musk’s endorsement of the discredited "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory, reported Washingtonian.

The advertising halt is set to come into effect this week, according to a spokesperson for the Washington Post.

The exact amount the newspaper spent on advertising on X remains undisclosed. The ads are anticipated to stop running on the platform shortly. As of now, X has not commented on the matter.