Washington Post axes X ads amid Elon Musk's antisemitism row

The decision comes after Musk shared a meme endorsing the debunked "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory

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Web Desk
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An image of Elon Musk is seen on a smartphone placed on printed Twitter logos in this picture illustration taken April 28, 2022. —Reuters
An image of Elon Musk is seen on a smartphone placed on printed Twitter logos in this picture illustration taken April 28, 2022. —Reuters

The Washington Post has joined the growing list of companies suspending advertising on Elon Musk's Twitter/X platform amid a series of anti-Semitism controversies related to Musk's online posts.

The decision comes after Musk shared a meme endorsing the debunked "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory, a move that has intensified the ongoing advertiser exodus from Twitter/X.

The newspaper's tech journalist, Taylor Lorenz, had sought clarification from the Post's advertising department regarding their continued support for Musk despite the recent stories on rising anti-Semitism. However, the ad department declined to respond.

A Post spokesperson confirmed the decision to halt ad spending on Twitter/X, stating that the pause is effective this week, and ads on Musk's platform should cease running soon.

The spokesperson did not disclose the exact amount spent on advertising on Twitter/X. CNN media reporter Oliver Darcy, who has been monitoring the trend of companies pulling their ads from Musk's platform, noted that the fallout is extending beyond advertisers.