Elon Musk, in his first major media interview since posting an antisemitic tweet earlier this month, expressed regret over what he called his "dumbest" social media post.
However, during the same conversation at the New York Times DealBook Summit in New York, Musk vehemently criticized advertisers withdrawing from his platform due to increased antisemitism on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Musk stated, "I don’t want them to advertise," and directed a blunt message to advertisers using financial influence as leverage, saying, "If someone is going to blackmail me with advertising or money, go fk yourself. Go. Fk. Yourself." He specifically mentioned Disney CEO Bob Iger, who had spoken earlier at the summit.
The conversation, which lasted over an hour, saw Musk discuss various topics, including his recent visit to Israel. He clarified that the trip was not a response to the tweet controversy, and he remains steadfast in his personal convictions, stating, "I am a good person but I’m not going to tap dance to show people that."
During the summit, Musk also addressed the recent leadership upheaval at OpenAI, expressing concern about the potential dangers of AI and criticizing the company for straying from its open-source roots.
The interview, which began as an apology for his controversial tweet, evolved into a wider discussion covering topics like childhood trauma, aliens, and even using X in the bathroom. This varied conversation led to some attendees leaving before its conclusion.
