Billionaire Elon Musk Calls for Disney CEO Bob Iger to be Fired
Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Tesla, took to the social media platform X to declare that Disney CEO Bob Iger should be immediately ousted. This proclamation was in response to Disney pulling its advertisements from Musk’s social media platform.
Musk asserted, “He should be fired immediately,” on X, formerly known as Twitter. He added, “Walt Disney is turning in his grave over what Bob has done to his company.”
Musk also questioned why Disney has not removed its ads from Meta after New Mexico accused the social media giant of failing to protect children, alleging that Instagram and Facebook are unsafe for children and are used as platforms for child exploitation.
In the midst of this, Musk raised the issue of Disney still advertising on Meta’s social media platforms, suggesting that Iger thinks it’s acceptable to advertise alongside child exploitation material.
Disney has not publicly responded to Musk’s post. The Epoch Times sought comment from Disney on the matter.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, strongly contested the allegations made by New Mexico, asserting that it employs advanced technology to safeguard children and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to combat predators.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Musk accused companies that withdrew their ads from X of engaging in extortion. He made his stance clear by stating, “If somebody’s gonna try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money? Go [expletive] yourself.” Musk’s antagonistic comments received applause from the audience, with an implicit reference to Bob Iger, Disney’s CEO.
Following the uproar, major U.S. corporations, including Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and NBCUniversal’s parent company, Comcast, halted their ads on X after a report was released by the left-wing group Media Matters. X has since filed a lawsuit against Media Matters for defamation.
Moreover, Musk expressed his belief that X could face financial failure due to the actions of advertisers. Despite the challenges, Musk declared, “Let the chips fall where they may.”
Subsequently, several prominent X accounts initiated a campaign to boycott Disney or cancel Disney+ subscriptions. “Stop giving money to people that hate you,” urged End Wokeness on the platform.
The SEC filing by Disney highlighted the risks associated with public and consumer perceptions of the company’s brand and reputation, especially in connection with its stance on social and environmental issues.
Disney’s public involvement in political controversies, such as its criticism of the Parents’ Bill of Rights, which was backed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, has triggered debates and backlash.
Senator Ted Cruz, a vocal critic of Disney, weighed in on the matter, stating, “I am sure Walt Disney is spinning in his grave over what’s happened to his namesake.”
The ongoing clash between Musk, Disney, and other major corporations reflects the shifting dynamics in the sphere of social media, advertising, and corporate responsibility.
The developments are indicative of the complex challenges faced by corporations in navigating the sensitivities of public opinion, activism, and ethical concerns in a rapidly changing socio-political landscape.
