In September, X owner Elon Musk announced that he was suing the ADL for defamation, accusing it of being responsible for the website’s collapse in value. Users widely mocked the decision, pointing out Musk’s hypocrisy and accusing him of being responsible for the loss in value himself.
Musk’s announcement
“To clear our platform’s name on the matter of anti-Semitism,” Musk posted on X, “it looks like we have no choice but to file a defamation lawsuit against the Anti-Defamation League… oh the irony!”
Rising hate
Days earlier, ADL director Jonathan Greenblatt met with the CEO of X, Linda Yaccarino, to discuss the rise in hate speech on the social media platform. Musk alleged that “ADL has tried very hard to strangle X/Twitter.”
Case in point
However, Musk made the post in response to Keith Woods. Rolling Stone described Woods as “an antisemitic YouTuber affiliated with notorious racists Richard Spencer and Nick Fuentes.”
Another example
In November, Musk agreed with and boosted a tweet that accused Jewish people of “pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them.”
Dangerous behavior
“Notorious antisemites are celebrating what they see as Musk’s complete conversion to blatant expressions of Jew hatred,” Brian Leven, an expert in hate crime, told CNBC. “Elon Musk piles on by amplifying neo-Nazi type Jew hatred about them being anti-white by invoking immigration, just as the convicted Tree of Life massacre killer did.”
Hateful celebration
The CEO of right-wing social media network Gab celebrated Musk’s comments. “In under five years we went from having every single one of our guys banned from the big tech platforms to the richest man in the world noticing, naming, and waging total war on our largest enemy while running one of those platforms,” he tweeted in September.
Destruction of value
Musk accused the ADL of being responsible for destroying “half the value of the company, so roughly $22 billion.” In October, the company was valued at $19 billion based on equity awarded to employees, a 55% drop from the $44 billion Musk bought it for.
Widespread mockery
“I love the implication that the erratic management, mass layoffs, incoherent moderation, destruction of verification, decimated engineering staff, serial unbanning of racists, and crumbling infrastructure had nothing to do with Twitter losing half its value,” Mike Rothschild, a researcher specializing in antisemitism, tweeted. “Nope, just Jews.”
Another option
“Can’t help feeling there’s a better way” than suing the ADL, one X user tweeted. “Like ummm maybe banning Nazis?” “You know, you could also just get rid of the anti-Semitism,” another user echoed.
Dubious choices
“To be super clear,” Musk clarified after announcing his intent to sue the ADL, “I’m pro free speech, but against anti-Semitism of any kind.” “First thing this guy did was let all the banned neo-nazis back on here but ok!” one user responded.
Fragile ego
“Billionaire bully, who pretends to be a free-speech absolutist, is a censor of the highest order, when his feelings are hurt,” one user commented.
False claims
“The idiot who paid $44B to buy Twitter is now claiming there isn’t anti-Semitism on the platform,” one user tweeted, attaching a screenshot of a tweet from YouTuber LeafyIsHere that reads “f..ck the jews.”
Sensible decision
“If I wanted to ‘clear our platforms name of anti semitism’ i would simply rid the platform I own of nazi propagandists,” one user wrote, “rather than interacting with and promoting them.”
Calling him out
“Bullshit,” one user wrote. “You’ve given Nazis free reign on this platform. Billionaire Rating 0/10.”
Rather pathetic
“What a weak, weak man,” one user wrote. “His ‘free speech absolutist’ platform is so fragile the mere presence of the ADL is too threatening — apparently his revenue model counts on unfettered anti-Semitism.”
Read Next: What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange
Former President Donald Trump’s distinctive orange skin has captivated attention, sparking curiosity about its evolution from average pale over the years:
What Really Causes Donald Trump’s Skin to be So Orange
27 Things MAGA Movement Ruined Forever for People
How the MAGA movement left its mark on individuals and disrupted certain aspects of our everyday life forever:
27 Things MAGA Movement Ruined Forever for People
Court Finally Unseals Secretive Case of Jan 6 Offender
Samuel Lazar sentenced for Jan. 6 insurrection; previously confidential case now revealed: Court Finally Unseals Secretive Case of Jan 6 Offender
Defamation lawsuit against Kari Lake advances while people compare her to Rudy Giuliani
Kari Lake loses First Amendment right to accuse Maricopa County recorder; Arizona Republic ponders if she’s channeling Rudy Giuliani in her sleep : Defamation lawsuit against Kari Lake advances while people compare her to Rudy Giuliani
More Democrats are flipping in a crucial swing state than Republicans
In Pennsylvania, a significant number of registered Democrats flipping is sending an unflattering signal to President Biden: More Democrats are flipping in a crucial swing state than Republicans