Elon Musk has strongly criticized Disney CEO Bob Iger, calling for his immediate termination after Disney ceased advertising on Musk’s social media platform, formerly known as Twitter. In a series of posts, Musk expressed his disapproval of Iger’s leadership, suggesting that Walt Disney would be displeased with the current state of the company under Iger.
This comes shortly after Musk lashed out at companies that participated in an advertising boycott on his platform due to concerns about antisemitism. In a profanity-laced outburst at an event in New York, Musk told companies, including Disney, Apple, and Comcast, that had paused advertising to “go [expletive] yourself,” accusing them of attempting to blackmail him.
Bob Iger returned to Disney over a year ago, less than 12 months after retiring, to navigate the company through challenging times marked by a plummeting share price and losses incurred by the Disney+ streaming service. During his previous tenure at Disney, Iger characterized the period by making significant acquisitions, such as Pixar, Marvel, 21st Century Fox, and Lucasfilm, which contributed to a five-fold increase in the company’s market value.
Elon Musk also criticized Disney for allegedly advertising on social media platforms that permit controversial content. He hinted at the recent box-office performances of some Disney films, claiming that Iger dropped “more bombs than a B-52.”
Disney has not responded to Musk’s statements, and Iger, who spoke at an event where Musk made his comments, has yet to address the situation. Musk’s visit to Israel followed his apparent endorsement of an antisemitic conspiracy theory last month, which he later denied but apologized for, acknowledging a 50% decline in ad revenue on his platform in July. During a recent summit, Linda Yaccarino, X’s chief executive, reposted Musk’s remarks, emphasizing the platform’s commitment to free speech and its influential community.
