NEWS  News  November 18, 2023  Reading time: ~1 minute)

Max (RS editor)

Elon Musk has announced his intention to file a "thermonuclear lawsuit" against progressive media watchdog Media Matters and other entities. This announcement comes in response to a growing list of companies pausing their advertising on Musk's social media platform, X (formerly Twitter).

Musk, posting on X Friday evening, stated:

"The split second court opens on Monday, X Corp will be filing a thermonuclear lawsuit against Media Matters and ALL those who colluded in this fraudulent attack on our company."

Media Matters President Angelo Carusone responded, calling Musk a bully and asserting that if a lawsuit is pursued, they will prevail. Carusone stated Musk confirmed the ads ran alongside pro-Nazi content identified by Media Matters. On his side, Musk, emphasized once again that X is on a mission to protect free speech:

This isn't Musk's first threat of litigation. In September, he vowed to sue the Anti-Defamation League but didn't follow through, attributing a 60% advertising decline to the ADL.

In a separate case, Musk sued the Center for Countering Digital Hate last summer. The group filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that X Corp sought to silence criticism.

Musk's recent actions coincide with a tumultuous week for X:

• Musk allegedly endorsed a post promoting a controversial theory about Jewish communities.
• Media Matters reported major brands' ads appearing next to pro-Nazi content on the platform.
• Companies, including Comcast/NBCUniversal, Paramount Global, Warner Bros Discovery, The Walt Disney Company, Apple, and Lionsgate, paused advertising on the X platform.
• The White House condemned the platform's amplification of anti-Semitic content, referencing recent tragic events.

As Musk gears up for legal action, the fallout from these controversies continues to unfold on X. 

(Cover Image By freepik/Review Space)