In a bid to fix his relations with advertisers, Elon Musk clarified his earlier remarks that sparked controversy during the Cannes Lions advertising festival, according to CNBC.
Musk, attending the event to reassure ad groups and global brands about the future of his X social media platform, addressed criticism over his blunt directive to advertisers threatening to withdraw their ads last year.
Speaking at a session moderated by WPP CEO Mark Read, Musk explained that his comment telling advertisers to "go f--- yourself" was intended to defend free speech rather than a broadside against the advertising industry.
Musk acknowledges the repercussions his platform, X, has faced due to controversial content. Musk asserts that X prioritizes the latter if compelled to decide between censoring content to avoid financial losses and upholding free speech principles.
Advertisers on X
Last year, major advertisers such as Apple, IBM, Disney, and Sony pulled their advertisements from X due to controversial remarks made by Musk and concerns about their ads being placed alongside problematic content, according to VCPost.
In response to questions about his trip to Israel, amidst accusations of promoting anti-Jewish sentiments on X, Musk rejected the notion of an "apology tour," reaffirming his resistance to advertisers' pressures.
At Cannes Lions, Musk's efforts to reconcile with advertisers coincided with appearances by X's CEO, Linda Yaccarino. Both are aiming to woo back advertisers on the platform.
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