Dang it, Bobby
In an interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin at The New York Times' DealBook Summit, Elon Musk laid into advertisers who were boycotting X over comments on Israel in the wake of the Israeli invasion of Gaza. He selected Disney and its CEO, Bob Iger, for special attention:
If somebody's going to try to blackmail me with advertising, blackmail me with money, go fuck yourself. Go. Fuck. Yourself. Is that clear? I hope it is. Hey, Bob, if you're in the audience. That's how I feel. Don't advertise.
Elon Musk, in conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin, The New York Times' DealBook Summit, X
This was after Iger had himself given an interview on the same platform. Musk must've had him in mind when later calling out the hypocrisy of virtue signalling:
What I care about is the reality of goodness, not the perception of it. And what I see all over the place is people who care about looking good, while doing evil. Fuck them.
Elon Musk, in conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin, The New York Times' DealBook Summit, X
He was definitely thinking of Iger when claiming the public were boycotting TWDC, implying they were doing so over its threat to free speech on X, although Sorkin tempered his rhetoric somewhat:
- Musk:
Tell it to the judge. The judge is the public.
- Sorkin:
And you think that the public is going to say that Disney is making a mistake?
- Musk:
Yes.
- Sorkin: qspan title="Andrew Ross Sorkin">And they're going to boycott Disney?
- Musk:
They already are.
- Sorkin:
Well, there are some that are, for lots of different reasons.
Subsequently, as if fulfilling the prophecy, several have taken to posting their Disney+ subscription cancellations on X. (thumbup) (LOL)
I'm not a fan of the space cadet, but when he pricks Disney's hubris, I can't help but give him a round of applause. And invite him to dance with me…
[ dances the DIE DISMAL DISNEY dance ]
Whether the public is actually boycotting Disney; antipathetic to the constant messaging; bummed at the price hikes and ad inserts; or simply apathetic towards the low-quality output, is probably a matter of perspective as much as anything. No one will ever know for certain.